Jimmy Kimmel is going to have a big year in 2017. As his talk show continues to hit solidly in the ratings, he just announced that he would be hosting the Oscars on February 26th:
Yes, I am hosting the Oscars. This is not a prank. And if it is, my revenge on @TheAcademy will be terrible & sweet. Thx to @alsformalwear
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) December 5, 2016
Kimmel has hosted the American Music Awards many times and hosted this year’s Emmy’s to good reviews. I thought he was fine on the Emmy’s. His going after Maggie Smith (and her subsequent retort) was great. But let’s face it – Kimmel is a safe choice. His show is on ABC as is the Oscar’s broadcast. The Oscars are under a great deal of scrutiny after last year’s #OscarSoWhite controversy. As a result, they opened their membership up to increase diveristy while asking a few of the entrenched members to take a back seat. With all of the focus on whether the Oscars can pull themselves into a 21st Century mindset, I can understand why they would go with a safe host. I like Kimmel. He’s still making fun of people, just doing so in a subtler way that doesn’t come across as an attack (with the exception of Matt Damon, of course). Personally, I would prefer to see safe comics doing mild jokes than edgy comics forced to restrain themselves. Plus, celebrities love Kimmel and will do anything for him. For example, he just reteamed with Bono for the second annual RED Shopathon and was able to get a lot of celebrities to act silly. Plus it gave me my new song for the holidays We’re Going to Hell.
His other big news was that his wife, Molly McNearney, is pregnant with their second child. Here is Jimmy making both announcements on his show:
See? He can be tame and funny. Molly and Kimmel are parents to two-year old Jane. I could not imagine having a baby at my age, let alone at 49 like Kimmel. Even with extra help, kids and trying to keep up with their worlds are just exhausting. However, obviously they are very excited so congratulations to them. Molly is 38, which is how old I was when I had my second (still exhausting, though.) In the video, Kimmel refers to the ultrasound as spying on the kid. I like that and intend to use it to invade my kids’ privacy from here on out, “Hey, you weren’t complaining before so why make a fuss now?”
Lawd but Jane is adorable – I get why they want to make more.
Photo credit: WENN Photos, Instagram, Twitter and Getty Images
I like Jimmy Kimmel much, much more than i like Jimmy Fallon, for example. But I would have preferred Seth Meyers, especially this year. Congrats on his 2nd kid! He looks much younger than 49 in my opinion!
Technically, kid number four.
+1 49?? I’m shocked. He looks amazing and gives me hope for when I get there 🙂
I like jimmy and yes he is safe and a 180 from last years “not safe” choice of Chris Rock. Should be interesting.
And yes his daughter is adorable and his wife seems cool. She’s helped prank jimmy a few times (my favorite being with Rihanna).
“Bigly” Jimmy Kimmel fan. 🙂
I was convinced the ladies from Ghostbusters would be picked to do it, for some reason. I think Jimmy will be fine, though.
Kimmel was funny at the Emmys and WRAPPED IT UP ON TIME. To Martha Clark, ‘are you rooting for O.J. to win this time?’. He’ll do great.
I want James Cordon to host the Oscars. Pretty please.
It’s Time we all had a Sit down moment… Jimmy Got Hot, Right?? Like…. It’s not just me and my GFs having a confusion about this…Right?? Right?
not even hot. he upgraded with a hotter wife too!
Jimmy lover here as well! And what a cutie, lil Jane! Not surprising, because his wife is a knockout.