Chris Rock will host the 2016 Academy Awards
It's official: Chris Rock will host the 88th annual Academy Awards ceremony.
There's no great surprise here — on Tuesday, numerous trade outlets reported that Rock was in serious talks to host, with a formal announcement expected shortly.
Chris Rock previously hosted the Oscars in 2005, earning mostly strong reviews from critics — but a bizarre rebuke from Sean Penn, who objected to a gag about his All the King's Men co-star Jude Law:
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The 88th annual Academy Awards will be held on February 28, 2016.
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Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.