Filmmaker and comedian Chris Rock
After some up-and-down years with hosts such as Seth MacFarlane and Neil Patrick Harris, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is pulling from the past yet again after announcing on Wednesday that comedian Chris Rock would be hosting the 88th Academy Awards in 2016.
Rock’s previous hosting stint was in 2005 for the 77th edition of the awards ceremony.
“Chris Rock is truly the MVP of the entertainment industry,” said producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin. “Comedian, actor, writer, producer, director, documentarian – he’s done it all. He’s going to be a phenomenal Oscar host!”
Rock has enjoyed recent success with his 2014 film, “Top Five,” which he starred in alongside Rosario Dawson, Tracy Morgan, and Gabrielle Union, and was a semi-autobiographical look at his career. He also recently directed the HBO comedy special, “Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo,” which debuted last Saturday.
While Rock has shown in the past that he is capable of hosting the show, it is a little curious that he was chosen to host the ceremony after Hill told Entertainment Weekly in September that they were eyeing a “multiple hosts” show for this year with the producer also teasing that they were speaking with a “well-known duo.”
The 88th Academy Awards, hosted by Rock, will be held on February 28, 2016 at 7 p.m. on ABC.
— Zach Dennis, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
