The 94th Academy Awards will be hosted for the first time since 2018. Who’s up for it?
Hollywood’s biggest night hasn’t had a host in years. While the Oscars have been without an MC since Kevin Hart abruptly left in January 2019, this year they’re switching things up. The Academy revealed earlier this week that this year’s program will feature a presenter, but did not reveal who it will be..
This news has naturally sparked wild conjecture across Los Angeles, which the Academy has further fueled. On Wednesday, they teased: “Hypothetically, if we asked you who you wanted to host the Oscars, who would it be?” Popular proposals included Better Things star Diedrich Bader’s concept.
While we admire Bader’s bravado, we don’t know the status of his job application. Meanwhile, the gossip mill has been churning. Here are the most likely candidates to get the gig:
Tiffany Haddish
A true movie star in comedies like Girls Trip, Night School, and Like a Boss. The fact that this year’s Oscar telecast is being produced by Girls Trip director Will Packer has fueled anticipation she’ll win.
Stand-ups do better as hosts, but they must also act. Haddish checks both. More significantly, she’s incredibly hilarious and charming, both of which are essential in this thankless position.
Pete Davidson
The current Mr Kim Kardashian is one of the world’s most desirable men, according to the Academy. A source told Page Six that Davidson’s team had “talks” with the Oscars about hosting this year. (A later Variety story deemed Davidson’s win “extremely doubtful.”)
The current Saturday Night Live crop’s breakout star would inject some edge into the stodgy awards presentation.
Will Hollywood’s A-List take a shot at their acting talents from The King of Staten Island’s star?
James Franco and Anne Hathaway
Actors who have never worked together before co-hosting the 2011 Oscars, dubbed “the worst Oscars ever”.
Meg Stalter
Meg Stalter is a comedian who became a breakout star in the critically acclaimed comedy Hacks.
Pros: “She’s like… half Emma Stone, half a mother who’s had enough.”
Tom Holland
He’s likable, youthful, a Marvel superhero, and half of an almost-impossibly cute power couple. “What sort of f***ing moron wouldn’t host the Oscars?” Holland said in an interview. Clearly, he missed the Kevin Hart story.
Is Holland, at 25, too young to command the attention of the night’s A-Listers and egomaniacs?
James Corden
Who: Adult theatre kid and host of CBS’ The Late Late Show with James Corden.
Pros: A lot of hosting experience, and a great song-and-dance performance.
Cons: Many in the Academy have yet to forgive him for a) participating in Cats and b) donning a silly cat costume with Rebel Wilson in 2020.
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel Live! host of the 2017 and 2018 Oscars.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is taped right across the street from the Oscars, so he won’t have to travel far.
Bringing back Kimmel would be a step backwards in terms of updating the show.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
They, too, are comedic superstars with a genuine camaraderie that shines through when they host, as they did for the Golden Globes in 2013 and 2015.
Hilarious, it would be a fantastic way to lighten the mood during the Oscars.
