http://oscarbeat.latimes.com/awards_osc ... _gent.html

And the mike goes to...

The long search for an Oscar host is over, with an official announcement from the academy expected to come early Thursday morning.

For the moment no one at AMPAS or involved with the production will confirm it--but according to three sources familiar with the process, the job of hosting the 78th Academy Awards will go to Jon Stewart, the Emmy-winning writer-host of "The Daily Show" and a host of the Grammy Awards in 2001 and 2002.

Times staff writers Scott Collins and John Horn report that Oscar show officials first approached Stewart shortly before Christmas. According to a source with first-hand knowledge of the situation, the deal was wrapped up in a flurry of activity a day or two before the holiday.

For the past couple of months, Oscar producer Gil Cates' search for an emcee has sometimes seemed to belong under the "Daily Show"-style heading "Indecision 2005." Last year's host, Chris Rock, was not asked back; eight-time host Billy Crystal said he declined an invitation because of his busy schedule. Published reports claimed that negotiations were underway with Whoopi Goldberg and Steve Martin, though those were never confirmed.

The 43-year-old Stewart does not have an extensive movie career, an attribute Cates generally prefers in his hosts. Stewart has appeared in a handful of films, few of which were Oscar material: "Death to Smoochy," "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and "The Office Party," among others.

But the barbed political humor of his nightly show on Comedy Central figures to make Stewart a perfect fit for the Oscars, especially in a year when many contenders--including "Brokeback Mountain," "Good Night, and Good Luck, " "Crash," "Munich," "Syriana" and "The Constant Gardener"--feature political and social themes.

Stewart will reportedly take at least a week off from "The Daily Show" to prepare for the Oscars, though hosts often spend far longer preparing for the task. Billy Crystal, in particular, often took a couple of months to plan, shoot and assemble his opening film and craft his song medley.

The new host will also use some of his own "Daily Show" writers to help with material. This is standard operating procedure at the Oscars, where the writing staff is usually divided into writers who work with the host and writers who work on everything else, with the occasional free agent (Bruce Vilanch comes to mind) moving between the two camps.

Stewart, who was born Jonathan Stewart Liebowitz, once told "60 Minutes" that he dropped the name Liebowitz because it "sounded too Hollywood."

Sorry, Jon. Can't get much more Hollywood than this new gig of yours.

This should be interesting but I still think Chris Rock was the best host the Oscars have had in years. And I'm not even a Chris Rock fan.

Dear lord no.

best news all day. billy crystal is fucking annoying. and chris rock was decent, but doubtfully as brilliant as stewert. also with his writing cast behind him, it would almost be impossible for a failure of a show

1. Johnny Carson
2. Billy Crystal
3. Letterman
4. Steve Martin
5. Bob Hope




6. Chris Rock
7. Whoopi Goldberg

Wow, I guess I look like a big racist there.

I know you guys don't have a knighthood system over yonder, but an award has to be given to someone who says something like that.

I'm unsure as to whether you think Stewart was being serious or not.

Works both ways. Of course it's better if he was serious, but still...

It's a boring show regardless of the host. Show me the winners in the paper the next day.

I always liked Billy Crystal's songs at the Oscars. Other than that... meh

1. Billy Crystal
2. Steve Martin
3. Whoopi
4. Dave
5. Rock

That is as far back as my young mind can go. And I really cannot stand Whoopi, but she did a decent job.

What was wrong with Chris Rock? At least he gave the show some edge, something the borefest has needed for years. I agree no one will ever top Carson, but as for Crystal, Goldberg, Martin...meh. Last year's show was one of the most entertaining Oscar broadcasts I've ever seen.

Anyway, for the first time in a while it looks like all the films nominated (and a lot of acting nominees) will actually be pretty good, so combined with Stewart it should be a fun show. As long as they keep it under four hours.

I thought Rock completly bombed. Of course his last comedy special was horrible to. He was out of his element, making Jude Law jokes in front of a bunch of white stuffy actors. It was more uncomftorable then funny.

Uncomfortable for who? The white stuffy actors? Fuck them. The majority of them take themselves way too seriously.

I agree, but Rock wasn't funny. I also agree with whoever said his last comedy special wasn't funny. Simply saying "nigga" and "fuck" a lot isn't enough to keep you funny, Chris.

I haven't seen his last comedy special either, but I thought he was pretty amusing at the Oscars. I like Jon Stewart, so let's hope he does a nice job and can lend the Academy presentation a modicum of class and wit for the next few years.

Stewart will have a lot of material to work with this year... a giant gorilla, gay cowboys, a troubled japanese geisha, tom cruise jumping off couches, Harry Potter going through puberty, Jen/Brad/Angelina and a helluva lot more. If he can't get some zingers out of that stuff... well, that's sad.

On a sidenote, I think it'd be a riot if they'd let Steven Colbert or Ed Helms do a red carpet report.

Saw the DS episode where he announced this yesterday night. It'll be the first time I'll watch the oscars in quite some time this year.