The onset of the annual Oscar season means that multiple movies with Academy Award aspirations head to theaters for voters (and audience members) to view, judge and eventually reward. But with each new Oscar season comes the pressing debate that has puzzled the film industry for years: 

 

Who should host the Academy Awards? 

 

It has become a controversial debate in recent seasons. There was that time Eddie Murphy was ready to host … until his producer, Brett Ratner, made derogatory statements in the press and was pressured to stand down. Oscar veteran Billy Crystal rode to the rescue, but the Academy has struggled to find the right host for its venerable ceremony. Remember the tag team of Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin? How about the Anne Hathaway-James Franco pairing?  

 

Reports circulating now say that the Academy is considering former Saturday Night Live news anchor and current late-night TV host Jimmy Fallon for next year’s gig. Fallon’s name isn’t synonymous with the movies, though he appeared in Almost Famous, Taxi, Whip It and Fever Pitch, with Drew Barrymore. 

 

Fallon, instead, brings awards shows history, having hosted the 2005 MTV Movie Awards and the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2010. This, in addition to his nightly hosting gig on his NBC talk show. Those credentials helped Ellen DeGeneres, Jon Stewart and, yes, even David Letterman when they took a crack at hosting the Oscars. Could they work in Fallon’s favor, as well?

 

Nothing is set in stone. In fact, the most recent news we’re hearing from The Los Angeles Times is that ABC –the Oscars’ home TV network – isn’t thrilled with the potential hire, primarily because Fallon’s an NBC guy (and he would bring his SNL producer, Lorne Michaels, along for the ride if the deal goes through).  

 

But what do you think? Is Jimmy Fallon a good suggestion for next year’s Oscar host? Why, or why not? Let us know!

 

 

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