With Kevin Hart out, the 2019 Oscars may go ahead without a host

The Oscars are down to the wire in their search for a host for its 2019 ceremony – and may even decide to go without this year.  

While it initially appeared the Oscars had found this year’s host in Kevin Hart, with little more than two months until the ceremony, three days later Hart stepped down from hosting the 91st Academy Awards.

The surprising announcement came after old homophobic tweets and statements of Hart’s resurfaced in the days after his confirmation as the Oscars' host.

In an Instagram video Hart revealed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences issued an ultimatum that he either release an apology or step down. He chose to step down, although he later offered an apology to the LGBTQ community.

In light of Hart’s blindsiding departure, the Academy is back at square one and id tentatively pursuing other hosting options, including going hostless. Variety reported a potential hostless solution floated was “a bunch of huge celebs, something ‘SNL’ style, and buzzy people” to keep the show moving.   

While there is precedent for hostless Oscars ceremonies (there have been five shows in the Oscars’ history that were held without an official host, the most recent instance being in 1989), it would most likely be a last resort for the Academy.  

With Oscar ratings declining with each year, 2018’s telecast hitting a record low of 25.6 million viewers), it would be in the Academy’s best interests to have a host.

The main job of the host is to entice people to tune in, and then to keep them plugged in enough to keep watching. Late night television hosts, such as Jimmy Kimmel and Jon Stewart, have been the sturdy go-to for Hollywood’s biggest night. This year, according to Variety, the Academy is worried about anyone potentially too "edgy", while at the same time concerned someone "safe" could continue the rating decline.

Host or not, the 91st Oscars will tale place on February 24, 2019.