Chris Rock Confirmed To Host 2016 Oscars [UPDATED]
UPDATE:Less than 24 hours after we heard Chris Rock was in talks to host the 2016 Oscars, the Academy hasofficially confirmedthe news. Original story from 01-07-2025 follows.
In the past 24 hours, we’velost our mindsover a newStar Warstrailer, cheered onthe impending return ofGilmore Girls, and oohed and ahhed over anew teaser forThe X-Files. In other words, we’ve basically been reliving the early 2000s. So it seems rather appropriate thatChris Rock, who first hosted theAcademy Awardsback in 2005, is now in talks to host the 2016 ceremony.
Learn all about the Chris Rock Oscar host news after the jump.
While the Academy has yet to announce a host for the 88th Academy Awards,Varietyreports Rock is in “serious talks” for the job and that an official statement should be coming shortly.Robot Buttwas the first to report Rock would host the 2016 Oscars.
Rock’s 2005 hosting job was not universally beloved. Some detractors felt his jokes were too acerbic and political, particularly with regard to racial issues. But a lot of them were smart and sharp, and his perspective might go over much better in 2015 as the call for more diversity in Hollywood has only gotten louder since then. And besides, how oftenarehosts universally beloved? The best most of these people can hope for is mixed reviews.
Should he close his deal, Rock will followNeil Patrick Harrisin the hosting job.Ellen DeGeneres,Jon Stewart,Seth MacFarlane,Billy Crystal,Hugh Jackman,Steve MartinandAlec Baldwin, andJames FrancoandAnne Hathawayare the others who’ve hosted since Rock’s last turn on the stage.
Rock recently wrote, directed, and starred inTop Fiveand directed Amy Schumer’s recent HBO standup comedy special. As an actor, he was last seen in a guest-starring role on the Season 2 premiere ofEmpire.
Apologies to Rock, who is hilarious, but all this mention of “Rock hosting the Oscars” kind of has me wishingTheRock, a.k.a. Dwayne Johnson, would get to take the Dolby Stage instead. Oh well — there’s always next year. Revisit (Chris) Rock’s monologue from his 2005 hosting stint below:
And here’s his hilariously on-point joke from the 2012 Oscars about the lack of diversity in animation:
