Ellen DeGeneres will return to host the Oscars in 2014. This will be her second time taking the gig, after she received positive reviews when she hosted the Academy Awards in 2007.
The 2014 Oscars may be attempting to garner early interest in the event and ensure high numbers with the help of the entertaining talk show host. Her previous hosting jobs include the 2005 Emmys and the 2007 Oscars, both of which received positive reviews and strong ratings.
In a statement announcing DeGeneres' selection on Friday, the Motion Picture Academy said, "There are few stars today who have Ellen's gift for comedy, with her great warmth and humanity. She is beloved everywhere," says NY Daily News.
DeGeneres is one of the strongest presences among TV personalities, and has the numbers to back it up.
When DeGeneres hosted the 2007 Academy Awards, the telecast averaged a 14.1 rating/33 share in adults 18-49, with 40.18 million viewers total, says Nielsen. The numbers were a significant gain over the previous year, and rank among some of the best the awards show has ever garnered.
When she hosted the Emmys in 2005, the show averaged a 6.1 rating/15 share in adults 18-49. With a total of 18.63 million viewers overall, the show reached numbers that "no Emmys telecast has eclipsed in the last 10 years," says Variety.
DeGeneres has also seen increased success in her afternoon television talk show, which is on its strongest season to date. Her show, self-named "Ellen," averages about 3.35 million viewers and was up by about 20% in women aged 18-34, says Nielsen. In the core age demographic of females from 25-54, "Ellen" owns the No. 2 slot amongst talk shows, with "Dr. Phil" beating her out.
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