The Oscars will go without a host for the second consecutive year, reports Deadline .
In a statement on Wednesday, ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke said to the Television Critics Association, “Together with the Academy, we have decided there will be no traditional host, repeating for us what worked last year. [It will have] huge entertainment values, big musical numbers, comedy, and star power.”
Last year, comedian Kevin Hart was originally announced as host. But after homophobic tweets the actor made began to resurface, the Academy let Hart go and chose to proceed without a host, leading to a relatively smooth ceremony.
In fact, the 2019 Oscars were a hit for the Academy, running 30 minutes shorter than the average broadcast, and seeing a 12 per cent rise in viewership. It included such memorable moments as Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s A Star is Born performance, and an array of high-wattage presenters.
Burke said they’re hoping to pull off a similar show this year.
“We expect that we’re going to have another very commercial set of nominations,” she added. “A lot of incredible elements have already come together to convince us we’re going to have an incredibly entertaining show again. Our goal is to present the most entertaining show possible.”
The Oscar nominations will be announced on Jan. 13, and the ceremony will air live on Feb. 9.
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