Oscars 2014: Ellen DeGeneres to host Academy Awards for second time

Ellen DeGeneres received an Emmy nomination for her job hosting the 2007 Oscars and now she will be taking the helm again at next year’s ceremony.

“It’s official: I’m hosting the #Oscars!” Ellen DeGeneres, 55, tweeted on Friday.

She added: “I’d like to thank @TheAcademy, my wife Portia and, oh dear, there goes the orchestra.”

It will mark Ellen DeGeneres’ second time as Oscar host after she emceed the 79th Annual Academy Awards in 2007, for which she was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance In A Variety Or Music Program.

“I am so excited to be hosting the Oscars for the second time,” Ellen DeGeneres said in a statement.

“You know what they say – the third time’s the charm.”

This year’s host, Seth MacFarlane, drew mixed reviews for an edgy performance. He had already taken himself out of the running for a return engagement next year.

Oscars producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron expressed their delight at having the talk show queen back.

“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,” they wrote in  press release.

“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 is talented, wonderfully spontaneous, and knows how to entertain a worldwide audience,” said Dawn Hudson, Academy CEO.

“She’s a big fan of the Oscars; we’re huge fans of hers. It’s a perfect match.”

Ellen DeGeneres became a household name with her talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which has earned 45 Daytime Emmys during its 10 seasons.

The 2014 Oscars Ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

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