Jon Stewart Hosts this Year's Oscars

"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," said Stewart.

Jon Stewart Photo courtesy: blog.wired.com

(LOS ANGELES) - Jon Stewart has been set to host the 80th Academy Awards® telecast, producer Gil Cates announced today. This will mark Stewart's second stint as Oscar host.

"Jon was a terrific host for the 78th Awards," said Cates. "He is smart, quick, funny, loves movies and is a great guy. What else could one ask for?"

Stewart has been host and executive producer of Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, winner of four consecutive Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series, since 1999. The show has also been bestowed with two Peabody Awards.

In 2004 Stewart and the writers of The Daily Show also authored "America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction," which was awarded the Thurber Prize for American Humor and was a staple on The New York Times best seller list for 46 consecutive weeks.

"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," said Stewart.

Stewart has appeared in more than a dozen motion pictures. His television credits include a one-hour HBO comedy special, Jon Stewart: Unleavened, a recurring role as himself on HBO's series-within-a-series, The Larry Sanders Show, as well as an upcoming appearance on The Simpsons. Stewart hosted the Grammy Awards in 2001 and 2002.