The Oscars 2022 Will Have A Host, But Who? Maybe Pete Davidson

Ever since the Kevin Hart debacle of 2019, the Oscars have gone host-free to avoid controversy. This worked well for ratings at first, but with declining viewership in 2020 and 2021, now they’re searching for a host once again.

Hart was slated to host the 2019 Academy Awards until internet sleuths unearthed old tweets which were deemed homophobic. Even after apologizing, Hart backed out 48 hours after the offending tweets went public.

“I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscars … this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists,” Hart shared on Twitter at the time. “I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.”

The Academy didn’t invite anyone new to host for the following two years, but after record-low viewership in 2021, they decided on a new strategy for the 2022 Oscars ceremony.

According to Fox News, Hulu Originals & ABC Entertainment President Craig Erwich first revealed that the network is searching for a non-controversial yet entertaining host to step up. The last person to hold the gig was late night host Jimmy Kimmel in 2017 and 2018.

Erwich said the decision would be up to Oscars executive producer Will Packer. “Will really has his pulse on popular culture and entertainment,” Erwich explained. “I know he has a lot in store and we’ll have more details to share soon.”

Now that fans know there will be a host, everyone wants to know who. And Page Six revealed that one of the names on the short list is “SNL” star Pete Davidson, who’s been making headlines recently for his not-so-secret relationship with reality star Kim Kardashian. Davidson is awkward and goofy, but also seems to draw an audience, which would be vital for this year’s Academy Awards host.

“His people are talking to producers,” a source told Page Six. That person mentioned how Davidson pulled some impressive numbers while hosting the NBC New Year’s Eve special alongside Miley Cyrus.

“He gets a demographic that is hard to get,” the source said of Davidson’s appeal. “He is in a good space, his career is doing well and he is on the rise. He is a sex symbol, unlikely, but he is big with a certain generation.”

Davidson’s rep declined to comment for the story. Two other names floating around are “Spider-Man: No Way Home” star Tom Holland and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. There’s also a chance that Packer will opt to have multiple hosts throughout the night.

Past Oscars hosts besides Kimmel include Chris Rock (2016), Neil Patrick Harris (2015), Ellen DeGeneres (2014), Seth MacFarlane (2013), Billy Crystal (2012), and James Franco/Anne Hathaway (2011).

The 2022 Oscars are scheduled to air on ABC on March 27. The show will return to the traditional space in Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood after last year’s show, which got delayed due to COVID-19, took place at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.

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