The next Oscars is going to be a very gay place. It’s been announced that Ellen DeGeneres will return to host the Oscars, with the actress, comedian and talk shot host taking on the duties for a second time when the 86th Annual Academy Awards arrive on Sunday, March 2, 2014.
Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron – who are also gay – commented, “We are thrilled to have Ellen DeGeneres host the Oscars. As a longtime friend, we had always hoped to find a project for us to do together and nothing could be more exciting than teaming up to do the Oscars. There are few stars today who have Ellen’s gift for comedy, with her great warmth and humanity. She is beloved everywhere and we expect that the audience at the Dolby Theatre, and in homes around the globe, will be as excited by this news as we are.”
Ellen DeGeneres also released her own statement saying, “I am so excited to be hosting the Oscars for the second time. You know what they say – the third time’s the charm.”
Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs (we don’t know her sexuality, but she must be an ally at least) added, “I agreed with Craig and Neil immediately that Ellen is the ideal host for this year’s show. We’re looking forward to an entertaining, engaging and fun show.”
DeGeneres hosted the 79th Annual Academy Awards in 2007, for which she received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. However she suggested afterwards it wasn’t a gig she was particularly looking to repeat. Now she’s changed her mind.
Now we just need a few gay winners and we’ll have completely taken over.
Pixar has certainly changed its tune since the time it was reluctant to make sequels to any of its big hits (other than Toy Story 2). They have several follow-ups in the works, including next year’s Monsters University and the recently revealed Finding Nemo 2.