Jimmy Kimmel explains what makes a good Oscars host

Jordan Hoffman
·3 min read
2

By this time next week, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel will have his fourth Oscars hosting gig under his belt, tying him with Whoopi Goldberg and Jack Lemmon, and just one behind Johnny Carson—but way behind Billy Crystal at nine and Bob Hope with Wayne Gretzky-like numbers at 19.  

In advance of the big show, he and his producing partner/wife Molly McNearney spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, letting people know what they can expect. First, Kimmel joked about how you don’t really notice a solid hosting job (he compared it to an airplane trip—one might kvetch about delays and turbulence, but if things are smooth, no one says anything) and pretending he didn’t know Matt Damon (a frequent target of Kimmel’s ribbing) was in “Oppenheimer.” Then they talked about their plans for the broadcast.

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McNearney, who slipped in that they’ve been writing jokes for the big show since Christmas (but allowing spaces for ad-libs), explained that Kimmel’s first function is to work the room. If the audience is laughing, the people at home will follow suit, but you can’t lean too heavily on insider jokes that only industry folks understand. 

The pair also said they are pretty selective about asking actors to join in on bits. “I get it. They’re like, ‘Hey, I’m here to celebrate. I don’t need to risk any kind of backlash or cringey moment,’” McNearney explained. 

He also had a little rachmones, as they say, for Jo Koy, the less-than-household-name comic who hosted this year’s Golden Globes and positively bombed. “I think they should let Jo Koy host the show next year and give him a shot at doing it over. It would be very smart. I think he learned all the lessons, and he’s a funny guy. I think it would be nice for everyone,” Kimmel said. 

Talking about the highs and lows of hosting, Kimmel confessed he’s always eager to go to the after-parties, but also wouldn’t mind just going home. “I’ve been standing for too long!” Kimmel said. “And I can’t get into parties without him. You know how this town works!” McNearney zinged back, quite possibly being honest.

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