It’s Whoopi’s turn.
Actress/comedian Whoopi Goldberg will once again host the 74th annual Academy Awards March 24, after taking a two-year break from the job, officials announced Monday.
This will mark the Oscar-winning actress’ fourth time as host of the ceremony. She hosted in 1999, 1996 and 1994.
“I’m thrilled to have Whoopi Goldberg as the host for this year’s Academy Awards show. Whoopi has great warmth, wit, humor, humanity and a social conscience–all qualities that I feel are essential for this year’s show,” Laura Ziskin, producer of this year’s Oscarcast, said in a statement.
“She is both an Oscar winner herself and an Oscar tradition, this being her fourth stint as host over the last 10 years. I look forward to collaborating with Whoopi to put on a meaningful and entertaining evening.”
Goldberg has expressed her excitement about hosting the show, especially since the ceremony will take place for the first time at the newly constructed Kodak Theater in Hollywood.
“It’ll be the first broadcast done from Oscar’s new home, and I love a housewarming,” she said.
“And this broadcast, in my opinion, carries a different weight because it says that we as filmmakers, actors and technicians worldwide will continue to do what we do best and celebrate it. And who wouldn’t want to front that?”
Last year’s show was hosted by first-timer Steve Martin, whose dry sense of humor and understated performance counteracted the shenanigans of veteran host Billy Crystal in 2000. Crystal has been the most popular host to date, having taken the reins six times during the 1990s.
Goldberg won the Best Supporting Actress award in 1991 for her performance in Ghost.
