Third time's the charm? Jimmy Kimmel to return as host of the 2023 Oscars

All eyes are on the 2023 Oscars after the slap became the biggest controversy of the 2022 show – and beyond. Now we know who will emcee the big event.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday that this year's host will be a familiar face: Jimmy Kimmel, who previously hosted the Oscars in 2017 and 2018. The 95th Oscars will air live on ABC Sunday, March 12.

"Being invited to host the Oscars for a third time is either a great honor or a trap," the late-night talk show host joked in a press release. "Either way, I am grateful to the Academy for asking me so quickly after everyone good said no."

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Craig Erwich, president of ABC Entertainment, Hulu and Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals, called Kimmel's hosting return "a dream come true" in a statement.

"As we see every night on his own show, Jimmy can handle anything with both heart and humor, and we know that he will deliver the laughs and celebratory moments that define the Oscars," Erwich added.

News of Kimmel hosting comes a few months after Chris Rock claimed during his show Arizona Financial Theatre in August that he was asked to host the 2023 Oscars, but refused the invitation.

The Oscars broadcast was shaken up in March after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock while he was presenting an award for best documentary to Questlove for "Summer of Soul."

During the 2022 ceremony, Rock made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and her shaved head. Rock suggested she went bald for a movie role, quipping "G.I. Jane 2? Can't wait to see it." He was apparently unaware that Pinkett Smith has alopecia, which causes sudden hair loss.

Smith, who was seated by the stage, walked up to Rock and slapped him across the face, then returned to his seat and shouted at Rock to not say his wife's name.

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A month later, the Academy announced a 10-year ban on Smith from the Oscars.

In late July, Smith posted a video apology to Rock. "My behavior was unacceptable and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk," Smith said in the video.

Kimmel is no stranger to a turbulent Oscars ceremony. In 2017, chaos unfolded as the producers of "La La Land" informed the audience that they had not won the best picture award they were on stage to accept after realizing a mix-up: The real winner was "Moonlight." 

While stunned, Kimmel immediately riffed. "Personally, I blame Steve Harvey for this," he said, referencing the time Harvey infamously crowned the wrong Miss Universe. "Why can't we just give out a whole bunch of them?"

Kimmel will also have extra eyes on him at the Oscars after his highly criticized stage stunt at the Emmys in September interrupted "Abbott Elementary" creator Quinta Brunson's acceptance speech.

Will Arnett dragged Kimmel across the stage to present the outstanding comedy writing Emmy. Arnett joked that Kimmel was drunk after losing the variety/talk category again to John Oliver's HBO series "Last Week Tonight."

Brunson took the stage-blocking in stride, joking, "Jimmy, wake up. I won." But Twitter erupted, criticizing Kimmel for drawing attention from the "Abbott Elementary" creator and star's first Emmy win.

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Days later Brunson appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and the host apologized to the "Abbott Elementary" star. "That was a dumb comedy bit that we thought would be funny – I lost, I drank too much, and I had to be dragged out on the stage. And then people got upset. They said that I stole your moment, and maybe I did. I'm very sorry if I did do that," he said. "I'm sorry I did do that, actually. Also, the last thing I would ever want to do is upset you because I think so much of you, and I think you know that. I hope you know that."

Brunson thanked Kimmel for the "kind" apology.

"I was honestly in such a moment of having a good time, like I won my first Emmy! I was up there happy, and I was wrapped up in the moment," she said.

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Ahead of his second time hosting the Oscars in 2018, the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" host told USA TODAY the hardest part is whittling down "thousands" of jokes from his writers without being able to test them in front of an audience.

"Some of the hosts who are stand-up comics will go to comedy clubs, but I’m too paranoid someone is going to have a video camera and is going to tape them and ruin the whole deal. I prefer to just roll the dice," he said.

Contributing: Bryan Alexander, Gary Levin, Marco della Cava, USA TODAY; Richard Ruelas, Arizona Republic

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jimmy Kimmel to host 2023 Oscars: 'Either a great honor or a trap'