25 best award show hosts
By Reed Gaudens
5. Jimmy Kimmel
Show: 68th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2016), 89th Annual Academy Awards (2017), 90th Annual Academy Awards (2018)
Memorable Moments: As if it hasn’t been overstated enough, hosting the Oscars is a thankless gig for a comedian or performer. Hitting all the right beats and creating moments that will alleviate the grind of a three-hour long telecast isn’t for the faint of heart. But Jimmy Kimmel managed to take this thankless job, in the hardest years for Hollywood and America, and turn it into a night full of laughs and surprises.
In 2018, Kimmel enjoyed a victory lap that included a you-had-to-be-there style monologue and a special delivery of candy ballooned in from the ceiling. But the year before was an Academy Awards presentation for the ages. Kimmel attempted to one-up Ellen DeGeneres’ viral pizza and selfie moments by bringing a group of tourists through the show. Oh, and you might remember that one small, minor thing that happened in 2017: The wrong film was announced as the winner of Best Picture. No big deal.
Public Reception: If there’s a group of people have have expertly evolved into the internet generation, it’s late-night talk show hosts. They have learned from digital creators and the trends on YouTube what makes a great viral video. That ability to host a show every night, or even one night only, and spawn a number of viral moments for the world to consume online later is a skill that makes the best award show hosts. Both years as host earned Jimmy Kimmel stellar reviews, even though the agonizing length of the ceremony continues to be an unbearable hurdle for all hosts to cross.
Why They’re One of the Best: Jimmy Kimmel has made some missteps regarding comedy and the lines that shouldn’t be crossed, but he’s usually one of the comedians whose moral compass is pointed due north. He’s witty, quippy, and willing to take on a beast of a show that’s often unforgiving. After proving himself to be a solid emcee for the film celebration, his absence will sure be felt in 2019, which will be the first ceremony to go host-less since 1989. Why couldn’t Jimmy Kimmel just come back for a third year in a row and save the world from all of that Kevin Hart nonsense?