Why Jimmy Kimmel said no to hosting 2025 Oscars
What's the story
Jimmy Kimmel, a renowned comedian and television host, has disclosed why he declined the opportunity to host the 2025 Academy Awards.
Kimmel reiterated his decision during his appearance on the Politickin' podcast, hosted by Gavin Newsom, Marshawn Lynch, and Doug Hendrickson.
Kimmel cited his inability to balance the responsibilities of hosting the Oscars and his late-night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, as the reason for his decision.
Reasoning
'Just too much last year,' said Kimmel
Kimmel, who has hosted the Oscars four times in 2017, 2018, 2023, and 2024, expressed that the role demands his undivided attention.
"When I'm focused on the Oscar, I'm less focused on the show," he explained, adding, "And I just decided I didn't want to deal with that this year. It was just too much last year."
"You wind up pushing everything off 'til after the Oscars, and you have to do everything you promised to do after the Oscars."
Past experiences
'I figured I'd take a little break...'
Further, Kimmel shared, "I did two years and it went well...I did another two years, and it went well. I figured I'd take a little break."
He continued, "I'm all in when it comes to something like the Oscars. I think about it in the morning and at night, and when I have ideas I want to work on them and then my nightly show seems like a nuisance."
Kimmel is currently on a summer hiatus from his late-night show.
Potential hosts
Meanwhile, Kimmel suggested potential hosts for the Oscars
Kimmel suggested that there are many good potential hosts for the Oscars.
However, he noted that most of them aren't interested in taking up the role.
"It takes a lot of time...and a lot of the people who you think, 'That person would be great.'...they know they'd be great, they just don't want to do it," he explained.
"They say it's a thankless job. And I wouldn't necessarily describe it like that, because when it goes well, it isn't."