For the first time in thirty years the Oscars will be without a presenter following Kevin Hart’s decision to drop out from the awards.
Through the years there have been hit hosts (Hugh Jackman, Whoopi Goldberg) and catastrophic comperes (Franco and Hathaway, Billy Crystal in 2000, Billy Crystal in 2004 and Billy Crystal in 2012).
Here are a few of the times that the hosts hit the mark and raised smiles from the toughest live-audience on earth
25 of the best jokes from Oscars hosts
“This is how clueless Hollywood is about women. We made a movie calledWhat Women Wantand it starred Mel Gibson.”Jimmy Kimmel (2018)
Describing the Oscar statue: “He keeps his hand where you can see them. Never says a rude word. And most importantly no penis at all. He’s literally a statue of limitations, and we need more men like that in Hollywood.” Jimmy Kimmel (2018)
“I’m here at the Oscars, otherwise known as the White People’s Choice Awards.” Chris Rock (2016)
“Meryl has been nominated for an Oscar a total of 18 times. It sounds good, but if you do the math, between dresses, hair and make-up, that’s hundreds of thousands of dollars. Simply put, Meryl cannot afford to be nominated again” Ellen DeGeneres (2014)
“It was 13 years ago when I first hosted the Academy Awards, and things sure have changed since then. George Bush was president, the economy was tanking, and we had just finished a war with Iraq. Yeah, things really have changed.” Billy Crystal (2004)
“Jennifer Hudson is here tonight. Jennifer Hudson was onAmerican Idol, America didn’t vote for her and yet she’s here with an Oscar nomination. That’s incredible. And then Al Gore is here. America did vote for him … it’s very complicated.” Ellen DeGeneres (2007)
“Black PantherandWonder Womanwere massive hits, which is almost a miracle because I remember a time when studio heads didn’t think a woman or a minority could open a superhero movie—and I remember that time because it was March of last year.”Jimmy Kimmel (2018)
“(Away From Her) was about a woman who forgets her husband. Hillary Clinton called it the feel-good movie of the year.” Jon Stewart (2008)
“I don’t want you to think of this as any kind of competition, it’s a celebration. Although who are we kidding, it’s The Hunger Games. There are cameras everywhere, you’re starving, Jennifer Lawrence won last year…” Ellen DeGeneres (2014)
“Is it fair that Will [Smith] didn’t get nominated forConcussion? No. But it’s also not fair that he got paid $20 million forWild WildWest.” Chris Rock (2016)
“Everything is being downsized because of the recession. Next year, I’ll be starring in a movie calledNew Zealand.” Hugh Jackman (2009)
“Barkhad Abdi is here. He’s nominated forCaptain Phillips.He is from Somalia. He is a sommelier, so he knows a lot about wine.” Ellen DeGeneres (2014)
Introducing presenter Dakota Johnson: “Our next presenter is not only the star of the record breaker for biggest February premiere ever,50 Shades of Grey, she’s also the reason you had to explain to your grandmother what a spanking bench is.” Neil Patrick Harris (2015)
“President Trump calledGet Outthe best first three quarters of a movie this year.” Jimmy Kimmel (2018)
“Things are changing. We got a Black Rocky. Some people call it Creed, but I call it Black Rocky. It takes place where white athletes are as good as black athletes.” Chris Rock (2016)
“Everyone who’s ever worked with Meryl Streep says the same thing: Can that woman act! And, what’s up with all the Hitler memorabilia?” Steve Martin (2010)
“This has been a hell of a year. America has suffered through a great national tragedy. But we have recovered: Mariah Carey has already made another movie.” Whoopi Goldberg (2002)
“We don’t make films likeCall Me By Your Nameto make money. We make them to upset Mike Pence.” Jimmy Kimmel (2018)
“Democrats do have an historical race going. Hillary Clinton versus Barack Obama… normally when you see a black man and a woman president an asteroid is about to hit the Statue of Liberty.” Jon Stewart (2008)
“Benedict Cumberbatch: It’s not only the most awesome name in show business, it’s also the sound you get when you ask John Travolta to pronounce ‘Ben Affleck.'” Neil Patrick-Harris (2015)
“Maybe critics are right, maybe Hollywood movies are too violent? I took a nine-year-old kid to seeGladiatorand he cried through the entire film. Now, maybe it was because he didn’t know who I was?” Steve Martin (2001)
“Daniel Day-Lewisis not the first actor to be nominated for playing Lincoln.Raymond Masseyportrayed him in 1940’sAbe Lincoln in Illinois. I would argue, though, the actor who really got inside Lincoln’s head was John Wilkes Booth.” Seth MacFarlane (2013)
“Last year, Paul Giamatti was whupping Lupita [in12 Years a Slave]. This year, he’s crying at Eazy-E’s funeral [inStraight Outta Compton]. That’s range.” Chris Rock (2016)
Introducing presenters Idris Elba and Jessica Chastain: “InLong Walk to Freedomhe liberated South Africa. InZero Dark Thirty, she brought down Osama bin Laden. InA Million Ways to Die in the West, I pooped in a hat.” Neil Patrick Harris (2015)
“2012 was a great year for movies. Hollywood shattered box office records with $10.8 billion in domestic sales. In fact, studio accountants have never had to work harder to prove nothing made a profit.” Seth MacFarlane (2013)
“Nothing can take the sting out of economic problems like watching millionaires collecting gold statues.” Billy Crystal (2012)
