Academy Eyes Jimmy Fallon as Oscar Host (Report)

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been eyeing Jimmy Fallon as a possible host for the 85th Academy Awards, which would be produced by Lorne Michaels, the executive producer of NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

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However, ABC, which broadcasts the Oscars, has expressed reservations, according to the Los Angeles Times, which first reported on the possibility of Fallon hosting. Although ABC can not veto the Academy’s choice of Oscar host, the Times report said the network doesn’t want to see the Oscar broadcast, a high-visibility platform, given over to Fallon, who competes with ABC’s own late night host Jimmy Kimmel.

Fallon demonstrated his hosting skills as host of the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2010.

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Traditionally, the Academy president selects the producer of the Oscar broadcast, and then that producer, in turn, chooses the host. The Academy just elected a new president, Hawk Koch, on Tuesday night to serve as its president for the coming year, and Koch said one of his first orders of business will be lining up a producer and host. But discussions about the producing and hosting assigningments had already been begun by outgoing president Tom Sherak during the last months of his term. It was not immediately clear whether, now that Koch has stepped in, discussions with Michaels and Fallon will continue.

The Academy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.