Jon Stewart to host Academy Awards

By The Associated Press - 09/14/2007

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Jon Stewart will return as host of the Academy Awards.

The star of Comedy Central’s ‘‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’’ will get his second shot at hosting Hollywood’s premiere event, which will be held on Feb. 24 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. He hosted the 78th annual awards show in 2006.

Stewart was ‘‘a terrific host’’ for that event, Oscar telecast producer Gil Cates said Wednesday, announcing the selection in a statement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

The academy didn’t indicate why it decided to go with Stewart after using comedian Ellen DeGeneres last year.

‘‘I’m thrilled to be asked to host the Academy Awards for the second time because, as they say, the third time’s a charm,’’ Stewart joked.

Previous Cates-selected hosts include Steve Martin, Chris Rock, Billy Crystal and Stewart.

Stewart, a political satirist, injected some political humor into his 2006 performance, taking jabs at the war in Iraq and ribbing Hollywood’s elite about their ties to the Democratic Party.

However, some jokes bombed and he got mixed reviews.

‘‘His usually impeccable blend of puckishness and self-effacement fell flat,’’ a review by The Associated Press said, adding he was ‘‘too deferential, too nice and too obvious in his targets.’’

The 44-year-old Stewart, who also hosted the Grammys in 2001 and 2002, noted the split decision on his own cable TV show the night after the Oscars, saying he had a great time but didn’t know how he did until he saw the reviews.

‘‘I sucked and was great!’’ he said. ‘‘I was a painfully smug and unfunny heir to Johnny Carson.’’