Jimmy Kimmel Reportedly Endorses This Comic to Replace Him As Oscar Host

If you trust news outlets quoting unnamed network executives and anonymous showbiz insiders, then we have a comedy front-runner to host the Academy Awards next year. The job opened up after Jimmy Kimmel, a four-time host who has handled the duties for the past two years, decided to take a pass. You can’t say he didn’t warn us — when Kimmel took the job in 2023, he declared, “I always dreamed of hosting the Oscars exactly four times.”

Many assumed Oscar’s next host was already waiting in the wings. That’s John Mulaney, the hot new name to assume the job after killing it as host of the Governors Awards last year. 

He passed that audition, as well as delivered one of the most memorable moments during last year’s Academy Awards ceremony. 

When the Hollywood Reporter asked Mulaney in 2022 if he’d take the job one day, the comedian sounded ready. “Sure, why not?” he said. “It would be really fun. It’s hosting the Academy Awards. Johnny Carson did that.” 

Carson did, but Mulaney won’t — not yet anyway. He reportedly passed on an offer to take over for Kimmel, citing prior commitments for next winter, including what sounds like another run for his well-received Netflix talk show, John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A.

So if Kimmel and Mulaney are out, who’s in? The U.S. Sun is reporting a clear front-runner: Anthony Anderson, the ABC comedy star who got good reviews after hosting the Emmys last year. 

“ABC insiders” are claiming Anderson is Kimmel’s likely successor, providing these anonymous quotes to the Sun: 

• “Anthony is well-liked across the network both as an actor and entertainer.”
• "He is respected, considered easy to get on with, a great collaborator and is friendly with many major Hollywood stars.”
• “He is on the shortlist to present the Academy Awards, especially after his performance at the Emmys.”
• “Hollywood A-listers love seeing him live, as he has that talent to be cheeky rather than snarky about many of them in his jokes.”
• “His appeal to audiences across many age groups is also a huge plus.”
• "He is seen by many at the network as being in the hot seat.”

All good reasons to put Anderson at the front of the line when Oscar hires its new host. A bonus? Additional “insiders” (or the same insiders?) say Anderson has the Jimmy Kimmel seal of approval.

“Anthony has Jimmy’s backing to take the Oscars gig and also feels he would make a great go at his late-night role when he leaves," said the anonymous Kimmel confidante. “Jimmy and his production team rate Anthony so highly and feel being a late-night host allows him to show off his stand-up comedy skills and natural gift of being funny and clever on screen. The fact he has hosted in his place over a dozen times speaks volumes too. It has not gone unnoticed how smooth the transition is and the laughter from the audience during recordings.” 

The anonymous nature of the endorsements raises suspicions about their veracity, but Anderson does make sense. After scoring as Emmy’s host, reporters did ask him about taking over the Oscars next. 

“I would love to host another one,” Anderson said. “You’ll have to ask the Academy that.”