As 2016 begins to wind its way down to a close, movie-lovers the world over have no doubt begun to anticipate which films are going to be considered for awards season glory - and what films will ultimately win big at the 2017 Oscars ceremony and show. Last year, Chris Rock hosted the much talked about televised program that saw top honors go to such prestigious films as The Revenant and Spotlight. This year is already shaping up to hold quite the competition, with films like Manchester by the Sea, Moonlight, and La La Land attracting significant attention on the awards circuit already.

But more important than which films, performers, and filmmakers win big at the 2017 Oscars show, potential viewers who tune in every year to catch every moment of the red carpet action are probably wondering who will be the host and master of ceremonies early next year. A prominent late night talk show host has now been formally tapped to be the leader of the Oscar festivities come next February.

According to Variety, none other than Jimmy Kimmel of ABC will be hosting the 2017 Oscars broadcast - following his prior hosting gigs at the Emmy Awards in 2012 and 2016. Even though the Jimmy Kimmel Live! talk show host and comedian has yet to host the Oscars, his background in the entertainment industry should serve him him well as the master of ceremonies at the biggest Hollywood event of the year.

The official Oscar nominees may still be forthcoming, but with Kimmel leading the charge viewers should be in for a relaxed and thoroughly entertaining time, much like the one provided by fellow stand-up comic Chris Rock from this past year. Kimmel is among the most popular late night talk show hosts of the present moment, and as such his flair for genial conversation and sophomoric antics should bring a little levity to one of the most anticipated and coveted awards shows in the entertainment industry.

Regardless of which late night show host you might have personally preferred to host the 2017 Oscars show, Kimmel is certainly an inoffensive choice for a job that should always be taken with a grain of salt anyway. With any luck, Kimmel will manage to provide a little bit of self-awareness to the inherent pomposity of the standard proceedings, and maybe even go down as one of the better hosts in recent memory.

The 89th Academy Awards ceremony will air on February 26, 2017 on ABC.

Source: Variety