New Host Set to Take the Reins at the Oscars

What could be more nerve-wracking than hoping to hear your name read as a winner at the Academy Awards?

Just ask Neil Patrick Harris. He will host this year’s ceremony following in the footsteps of Ellen DeGeneres who brought home an 8 percent increase in viewers at last year’s show. Harris might be even more nervous knowing he wasn’t the Academy’s first choice. But he seems game for a try.

A few of the famous names to welcome guests to the glitzy party include Fred Astaire, Jack Lemmon, Will Rogers, Frank Capra, Jack Benny and David Letterman. Even Donald Duck shared the emcee duties one year. But none of them come close to hosting as many of the gala events as Bob Hope who took to the stage for 18 Academy Award ceremonies. He began his run with the Oscars in 1940 and hosted the first televised version of the show in 1953. His final appearance as host took place on the 50th anniversary of the awards.

Comedian Billy Crystal has taken the reins at nine ceremonies. Late night talk show host Johnny Carson emceed ceremonies from 1979-1982 and did his final stint in 1984.