The Oscar 2025 needs a host, seeing as the man who has been at the helm the most over the last ten years is over it.
Jimmy Kimmel announced over the summer in 2024 that fans hoping to see him host the Academy Awards next year would be left wanting.
Kimmel is out, and so is the comedian most assumed was next in line for the gig.
So, who will host the Oscars in 2025?
Honestly, we’re spoiled for choice.
TV host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 10, 2024. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
Jimmy Kimmel Gives Up Oscar Hosting Gig
The late night star has served as Oscars host four times in the last ten years, having emceed Hollywood’s biggest night in 2017, 2018, 2023 and 2024.
In an interview several months after the last show, Jimmy revealed he wouldn’t be returning in 2025. Turns out, the gig comes at too high of a price.
“I just decided I didn’t want to deal with that this year,” Kimmel said.
“It was just too much last year. You wind up pushing everything off till after the Oscars, and then you have to do everything you promised to do after the Oscars, after the Oscars. I did two years [2017 and 2018], it went well. I did another two years [2023 and 2024], it went well. I figured I’d take a little break.”
Most of what he “put off” had to do with his own show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, which for all his talk of leaving late night, he still loves it.
“I’m not good at balancing. I’m really not,” he added.
“It’s not one of my strengths. I’m all in when it comes to something like the Oscars. I think about it in the morning and at night, and when I have ideas I want to work on them, and then my nightly show seems like a nuisance. We have all our writers from the show working on the Oscars, so it distracts them. It’s fun to do, and it feels good when it went well, but, for me, just was too much, to do it three years in a row.”
John Mulaney attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. ((Photo by Marleen Moise/Getty Images))
Why John Mulaney Is Out Too
The rumor was, after Jimmy Kimmel passed on hosting the Oscars in 2025, that the next person approached was comedian John Mulaney.
One of the highlights of the 2024 show was John’s ‘Field of Dream’ bit while presenting the award for Best Sound. Plus, he also hosted the Governors Awards.
By all accounts, he was a shoe-in. But John turned the offer down, citing his tight schedule juggling so many different projects.
Fingers crossed that means “Everybody’s in L.A.” is getting renewed by Netflix!
Host Ellen DeGeneres speaks onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Who Will Host The Oscars 2025?
So where does that leave us? So glad you asked!
In truth, the door is open for some incredible talent to step in and take the reins. Obvious choices are folks who have hosted the show before and could make a triumphant comeback.
Whoopi Goldberg is tied with Kimmel for the amount of times she’s hosted the show (again, that’s 4) and since she’s taking a break from The View anyway, she could easily just extend the hiatus. (Plus she’s on ABC, so, you know – synergy!
We could also turn to Ellen DeGeneres. She claims she’s leaving Hollywood for good after her current stand up tour. What better farewell than doing the ultimate stand up gig in Hollywood! Plus, her icon selfie could use an update.
While both of them could be contenders, here are the front runners for the gig getting buzz right now.
Hugh Jackman attends the 85th Academy Awards Nominations Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 4, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Hugh Jackman Front Runner To Host Oscars 2025
He hosted the Oscars before back in 2009 and it remains one of the most beloved openings in the show’s history. Plus, he was in the biggest blockbuster of the year as one half of Deadpool and Wolverine. Checks a lot of boxes. Maybe this time though, he’ll trade in Beyonce for Taylor Swift to perform with him! (No shade towards Bey, just would like to see Taylor at the just like ONE TIME, you know!)
Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig speak onstage during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California. ((Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images))
Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig Would Be A Dream Team
Tina Fey and Amy Poeler with the dream team of the 2010’s, let’s give it to these two FINALLY. The present together all of the time and their bits are always talked about the next morning. Plus, lest us not forget that Maya will be wrapping up guest appearing as Kamala Harris on SNL for the 2024 election. She’ll be available! (Apple+ – clear their schedules!
Chris Rock poses after the end of the Oscars show at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California, 27 February, 2005, during the 77th Academy Awards. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Chris Rock: A Triumphant Return?
Think of the headlines! Chris Rock hosted in 2005 and 2016, and is as popular as ever, But it would be a massive deal to get him to return to the scene of the crime. Meaning, it would be his first time back to the Oscars since he was shockingly slapped by Will Smith while presenting an award in 2022.
Billy Crystal performs onstage during the 84th Annual Academy Awards held at the Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Billy Crystal Is Our Top Choice
The only person to host the Oscars more times than Billy Crystal (9) is Bob Hope (19). And frankly, no one has done it better than Billy. He’s a true showman. Funny. Musical. Political at just the right times. And 9 is just such an odd number. Give the man a nice even 10. Plus, it feels like we need a legend to step in this year. Someone who won’t settle for anything less than a show stopping opening everyone will be talking about the next day! Now, there is talk that he’s too “old” for the gig. Nonsense! You know who the best guest host of SNL has been in the last 20 years? Betty White. And she was well into her 80s by that time!
Jimmy Kimmel’s Out As Oscar Host: Who Will Replace Him In 2025? was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.