Jon Stewart sealed the deal. America’s favorite faux newscaster is going to give hosting the Academy Awards another try.
His first stab at the prestigious gig came in 2006 when he got mixed reviews for his performance. In 2007 the show was hosted by Ellen DeGeneres and drew 40.1 million viewers—-about 2 million more than when Stewart hosted. But, producers insist that the show’s lackluster ratings in 2006 weren’t due to Stewart’s performance.
“He did a great job two years ago,” Oscar telecast producer Gil Cates told reporters. “You need a host who is not afraid of the unexpected, who can stand out and really work a room and deal with a live show. Jon, of course, does that on his show every night.”
What’s more, 44-year-old Stewart apparently endeared himself to the show’s crew and got raves for being “so darn nice and easy to work with.”
You’ll recall in 2006 Stewart opened the Oscar telecast with jokes about the war in Iraq and peppered Hollywood’s elite with one liners about their ties to the Democratic Party. So is it because 2008 is an election year that the star of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” was chosen to host the Oscars?
Show producers say no.
“The choice was not impacted by political issues,” Cates said. “The choice was impacted by funny issues and he’s funny. That’s the main criteria.”
Cates should know. He has served as the telecast’s producer for years and the person who hosts the Oscars each year is chosen by the show’s producer. Not surprisingly Cates also produced in 2006, and chose Stewart then. Previous Cates-selected hosts include Steve Martin, Chris Rock and Billy Crystal.
Academy president Sid Ganis said he backs Stewart 100 percent, though some TV critics thought Stewart did nothing for the show when he hosted last.
“His usually impeccable blend of puckishness and self-effacement fell flat,” one reviewer said following Stewart’s emcee performance in 2006, adding he was “too deferential, too nice and too obvious in his targets.”
Stewart, referenced the pans on his own show the night after the Oscars, saying he had a great time but didn’t know what others thought about the job he did until he read the reviews.
“I sucked and was great!” he joked.
The 2008 Oscars will take place February 24th at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.
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