Jimmy Kimmel Turned Down Hosting 2025 Oscars Because ‘I’m Not Good at Balancing’ It and Late Night Show: ‘It Was Just Too Much Last Year’

As a long-time admirer of late-night talk shows and their hosts, I must say that Jimmy Kimmel‘s decision to step away from hosting the Oscars for a while is a testament to his dedication and commitment towards maintaining the quality of his own show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”


Jimmy Kimmel recently joined Gavin Newsom, Marshawn Lynch, and Doug Hendrickson’s “Politickin'” podcast, where he discussed his choice not to host the 2025 Oscars. Known for his four stints as the Oscars host in 2017, 2018, 2023, and 2024, Kimmel admitted that while he likes the role, it requires a significant commitment and takes away from “Jimmy Kimmel Live” since all his attention is needed for the Oscars event.

“Kimmel expressed that he didn’t feel up to handling the same situation this year, as it was overwhelming last time. He explained that due to obligations following the Oscars, everything gets pushed back and then one has to fulfill all the commitments made after the ceremony, post-Oscars. He had done two successful years [2017 and 2018], followed by another pair [2023 and 2024]. Given this, he thought it was a good idea to take a short break.”

“He admitted he struggles with balance, stating, ‘Balancing isn’t my strong suit.’ However, when it comes to something as significant as the Oscars, his focus is intense. He often thinks about it from morning till night and gets excited when he has ideas for it. Unfortunately, these creative pursuits can make his regular work, like his nightly show, seem burdensome. Since all of the writers from his show are working on the Oscars, it takes their attention away. While it’s enjoyable and rewarding to participate in three consecutive years, it was simply too much for him.”

In late July, it was announced that Jimmy Kimmel and John Mulaney declined invitations to host the Oscars in 2025. As of now, Kimmel shares the fourth-highest number of hosting gigs with Whoopi Goldberg and Jack Lemmon. However, he lags behind Johnny Carson (5), Billy Crystal (9), and Bob Hope (19) who have hosted more times.

During his appearance on the “Politickin’ ” podcast, Kimmel indicated that there are numerous suitable candidates for the role of Oscars host, yet many of these individuals are reluctant about taking up the offer.

“Many people believe others would excel at certain tasks, only for those individuals to decline the opportunity. As for hosting the Oscars, if someone seems ideal, they can easily disprove that assumption when they take on the role. People often label this job as thankless, but I wouldn’t put it that way. While a successful performance isn’t thankless, it is a challenging position to be in.”

Jimmy Kimmel has taken a break from hosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live” over the summer. In his absence, the show has welcomed guest hosts such as Kathryn Hahn and Kumail Nanjiani to fill in during these warmer months.

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2024-08-12 18:46