LA Times: Jon Stewart chosen to host Academy Awards

From: http://www.latimes.com/business/custom/cotown/la-fi-oscar5jan05,1,216520.story?coll=la-headlines-business-enter

January 5, 2006
Academy Settles on Jon Stewart to Host Oscar Show
By Steve Pond and Scott Collins, Special to The Times

Jon Stewart, the Emmy-winning host and co-writer of Comedy Central's mock newscast "The Daily Show," today will be named host of the 78th Annual Academy Awards, three sources familiar with the selection process said Wednesday, ending months of speculation about the show's next emcee.

Academy officials and longtime Oscar producer Gil Cates have settled on Stewart, 43, who hosted the Grammy Awards in 2001 and 2002, the sources said.

One of the sources, who has first-hand knowledge of the situation, said that officials contacted Stewart shortly before Christmas and that the deal was wrapped up in a flurry of activity a day or two before the holiday.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences planned to announce the host early this morning. A spokesperson declined to confirm Stewart's selection or comment further.

The academy and longtime broadcast partner ABC have in recent years battled a sharp erosion in Oscar viewership among young adults, those most sought by advertisers.

Although the Oscars are typically second only to the Super Bowl in their ability to draw a large TV audience, the size of that crowd is often influenced by the popularity of the films nominated for best picture. Last year, when Clint Eastwood's relatively small-scale "Million Dollar Baby" was honored, an average of 42.1 million viewers watched, down 3% from the previous year, according to Nielsen Media Research.

It's almost tempting enough to make me watch, but I probably won't. They just fawn all over each other too much for me.

Then you only have to watch Jon, and not all of the other rubbish!

I just hope they'll show it live in Norway.
I'd stay up all night to see jon stewart.

I like Stewart but i never really watch his show. Guess I need to be a little more flexible!

n/t

I'm sure they'll have it underway very soon, unless they're too busy concentrating on trying to boot Letterman off the air for humiliating their boy Bill O'Lielly.

He deserves the mainstream spotlight.

So much fawning, so much back patting, so much media attention, so boring. But I might watch it just to see Jon Stewart.

!!!!!!!!!!!!

Didn't Jon Stewart just turn down a request to host the National Press Club's annual roast, at which Bush will be present? I'm sure Stewart will be getting in multiple digs and insults to Bush and all the GOP corruption scandals and Brownie and the other crap the administration has dumped on the American public.

Congrats Jon! Do us proud! :toast:

Now i'll be sure to watch.

I totally heart Jon Stewart.:loveya:

Tho David can do no wrong in my book now.

CNN, Fox, et al, THOSE are the REAL mock newscasts! The Daily Show is the ONLY news show that tells the truth (with jokes, to borrow from Franken)

I really like Stewart but I have never been able to sit through an entire broadcast. I'm sure they'll let him write his stuff but most of the patter is so cheesy I lose interest early in the show.

But the damn advance search is disabled!

I'll only be watching because of him.

Award shows are ridiculous.