After three consecutive years without a host, three female comedians will hope to make up for lost time at the Oscars ceremony in March. Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes will lead the 94th Academy Awards show, a move organisers are hoping will attract more audiences after dismal viewership in the pandemic era.
"I'm not sure who thought this was a good idea but I am hosting the Oscars, along with my good friend Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall," Schumer, an Emmy award-winning comic, writer and producer said during an appearance on Good Morning America. "I better go watch some movies."
This year’s show is all about uniting movie lovers, producer Will Packer said. “It’s apropos that we’ve lined up three of the most dynamic, hilarious women with very different comedic styles.”
Schumer is best known for her award-winning sketch show Inside Amy Schumer, while Hall is known for films such as Girls Trip, Scary Movie and The Best Man. Sykes, who created, wrote and stars in the Netflix sitcom The Upshaws, has appeared in films such as Bad Moms and Down to Earth, as well as TV shows including Curb Your Enthusiasm and black-ish. She's also won an Emmy for writing for The Chris Rock Show.
It’s the first time hosting for all three women and the first time in 35 years there has been this many hosts for one broadcast.
“We’re invigorated by Will’s vision for this year’s Oscars: celebrating movie lovers alongside moviemakers and spotlighting fan favourites that prove how cinema can unite us all,” said Academy president David Rubin and Academy chief executive Dawn Hudson.
On Monday, the Academy also announced social media campaigns to help boost engagement ahead of awards night by partnering with Twitter. Using the hashtag #OscarsFanFavorite, users are encouraged to vote for their top 2021 movies, and the film with the most votes will be recognised at the ceremony. Three Twitter users will also get the chance to travel to the ceremony in 2023 on an all-expenses-paid trip.
An #OscarsCheerMoment has also been introduced, which will allow fans to tweet about their favourite scene from a 2021 film. The winning scenes will also be shown at the Oscars ceremony, alongside the fans' tweets. Five users who participated in the campaign will also receive prizes, which include a year's supply of movie tickets, subscriptions to streaming services and collectables from the Academy Museum.
The 94th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, Match 27 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.
— Additional reporting by AP
Scroll through the gallery below for pictures of past hosts at the Oscar awards:
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In 2018, US comedian Jimmy Kimmel was the host of the Academy Awards, after also serving in the role in 2017. AFP -
Jimmy Kimmel, right, at the 2017 Oscars, watches on while 'La La Land' producer Jordan Horowitz shows the card stating that 'Moonlight' won the Best Picture Award. AFP -
Chris Rock hosted the Academy Awards in 2016, with an opening monologue criticising the lack of black acting nominees. AFP -
In 2015, Oscars host Neil Patrick Harris did a musical performance along with Anna Kendrick. AFP -
In 2014, the award ceremony's host Ellen DeGeneres clicked the star-studded selfie that went viral. -
Seth MacFarlane opened the 2013 Oscars with a 19-minute monologue that was criticised by many as racist and sexist. AFP -
The 2012 Oscars host Billy Crystal has emceed the event a total of nine times. AFP -
James Franco and Anne Hathaway's hosting of the 2011 event was criticised as among the worst Oscar telecasts. AFP -
In 2010, veteran actors Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin played hosts at the Oscars ceremony. AFP -
The 2009 event was highly praised for host Hugh Jackman's opening musical performance. AP Photo
