Ellen DeGeneres to host 2014 Oscars

By Efrosini Costa

Ellen DeGeneres to host 2014 Oscars
TV show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres will host next year's Oscar awards, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has announced.

The US daytime television Queen was hand-picked to host Hollywood’s night of nights for a second time – having hosted the prestigious awards ceremony in 2007.

Academy Award producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron made the announcement about next year’s show, set to broadcast March 2nd, over the weekend.

“There are few stars today who have Ellen’s gift for comedy, with her great warmth and humanity,” the producers said “She is beloved everywhere,” they added.

Comic DeGeneres took to social media to share the good news, humorously announcing her role to fans on Twitter:

“It’s official: I’m hosting the #Oscars! I’d like to thank @TheAcademy, my wife Portia and, oh dear, there goes the orchestra.”

Many commentaries have said that in choosing DeGeneres, producers of the show are hoping to capitalise on the stars international appeal, opting for a star that most viewers would be ‘familiar and comfortable’ with.

Last year’s Oscars host Seth MacFarlane – better known as the creator of animated show Family Guy – drew mixed review from critics. His ‘edgy’ performance, including a song-and-dance number entitled We Saw Your Boobs left some in the audience more than a little uncomfortable.

MacFarlane was chosen in the hopes of attracting a much younger audience back to boost the Academy Awards ratings, and the producers succeeded in that. Now the heat is on 55-year-old DeGeneres to keep the Oscars 40 million viewers glued to their screens.

Ellen was nominated for an Emmy Award after her last performance hosting the awards more than 5 years ago. Since then her self-titled talk show has won 45 Daytime Emmy Awards during it’s decade-long stint on air.

Hosting the US’ most-watched television event of the year is an honour, one DeGeneres hopes to make a third time:   “I am so excited to be hosting the Oscars for the second time. You know what they say — the third time’s the charm.”

The Oscars announcement has our attention on next year’s nominees. Here are a selection of potential Academy Awards winners for the 2014 show:

Best Picture

The Butler

Blue Jasmine

The Monuments Men

American Hustle

August: Osage County

Labour Day

Best Actress

Oprah, The Butler

Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

Naomi Watts, Diana

Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

Sandra Bullock, Gravity

Judi Dench, Philomena

Best Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street

Bruce Dern, Nebraska

Michael B Jordan, Fruitvale Station

Idris Elba, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom

Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years A Slave

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, American Hustle

Cameron Diaz, The Counselor

Catherine Keener, Captain Phillips

Margo Martindale, August: Osage County

Julia Roberts, August: Osage County

Best Supporting Actor

Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher

Michael Fassbender, 12 Years A Slave

Benedict Cumberbatch, August: Osage County

Josh Brolin, Labor Day

John Goodman, Inside Llewyn Davis

 

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