Jon Stewart Returns To Host The Oscars

Jon Stewart has another date with Oscar!

The “Daily Show” star will host the 80th Annual Academy Awards telecast in February, following his previous hosting gig in 2006.

“Jon was a terrific host for the 78th Awards,” Oscars producer Gil Cates said in a statement. “He is smart, quick, funny, loves movies and is a great guy. What else could one ask for?”

Added Stewart: “I’m thrilled to be asked to host the Academy Awards for the second time because, as they say, the third time’s a charm.”

Stewart toned down his trademark political comedy a bit last time around, integrating Hollywood stars into his witty routine:

“Right now around the world we are being watched by hundreds of millions of people, nearly half of whom are in the process of being adopted by Angelina Jolie,” he joked on the show. “I’m wait-listed.”

Nearly 39 million U.S. viewers tuned in to watch that show, about a million less than this year’s host, Ellen DeGeneres, brought in. Still, neither host managed to score the 55 million viewers 8-time host Billy Crystal reached in 1998 when “Titanic” was the big movie.

Along with hosting the Oscars, Stewart served as host of the Grammy Awards in 2001 and 2002.

The 80th Annual Academy Awards will be broadcast live on ABC from Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre on Feb. 24, 2008.

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