Jimmy Kimmel has been selected as host of the 2017 Academy Awards, according to reports. His selection comes just four months after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences renewed its contract with ABC to air the ceremony through 2028. (ABC has been the exclusive home of the Oscars since 1976.)
The star of "Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel," which also airs on ABC, is no stranger to emcee duties, having hosted the Emmy Awards twice, in 2012 and earlier this year. He has also hosted the ESPYS and American Music Awards.
But it will be his first time leading the largest nonsports televised event of the year. He will follow in the footsteps of recent hosts Chris Rock, Neil Patrick Harris and Ellen DeGeneres.
Many will be looking to the show's ratings, as award shows overall have been suffering from declining viewership. The 2016 Oscars telecast in February, hosted by Rock, drew nearly 35 million viewers, the show's lowest since 2008. Its TV audience topped 43 million two years prior when DeGeneres emceed the event.
The 89th Academy Awards will air on ABC on Feb. 26.
