Oscars 2016: Chris Rock Hosting Again After 11 Years

Chris Rock is confirmed as the host for Oscars 2016 that are scheduled to be held on February 28, 2016 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood and come as the pinnacle event of awards season. Rock had presided over the Oscar ceremony 11 years earlier and the 50-year-old actor and comedian will return as master of ceremonies for The 88th Academy Awards in 2016, said Daily Mail UK.

Hudlin and David Hill were announced in September as producers of next year's ceremony. The news about Chris Rock to be the Oscars 2016 host was confirmed by Producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin by a joint statement released on Wednesday. They stated that Chris Rock was truly the MVP of the entertainment industry as he had been comedian, actor, writer, producer, director, and documentarian. They believed that he was to be a phenomenal Oscar host, said Esquire.

The veteran comedian takes over as MC after Neil Patrick Harris hosted last year's telecast. 2015 Oscars show witnessed a 16% drop in viewership, which was show's lowest rating in six years. Rock also said he was thrilled about his upcoming sophomore stint as host and said that he was glad that he will be hosting the show and it was great to be back, said Variety.com.

In the decade, when Chris Rock was absent from the Oscars hosting, Ellen DeGeneres hosted the ceremony twice in 2007 and 2014. Jon Stewart took to the stage twice in 2006 and 2008 while Hugh Jackman  hosted the show in 2009. Others hosts during the span were Billy Crystal (2012), Seth MacFarlane (2013), the duos of Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin (2010) and James Franco and Anne Hathaway (2011), said Variety.com.

Chris Rock had last time joked about Jude Law in 2005 to which the actor reacted a year later that he took it as an offense. Even Sean Penn was prompted to defend Jude Law during his presentation, said Daily Mail UK.