Chris Rock Will Be Hosting The Oscars

Chris Rock will be taking over the hosting duties for The Oscars this year. The actor/director will be taking the stage at the 88th Oscars ceremony on February 28th, 2016.

“Chris may be best known as a stand-up comic, but we think of him as a creative innovator in many other ways. He is unafraid in his artistry,” Academy CEO Dawn Hudson said in a statement.  “We couldn’t be happier to welcome him back to the Oscars.”

Rock is also excited to be returning to the Oscars stage.

“I’m so glad to be hosting the Oscars,” he said also in a statement. “It’s great to be back.”

Look who's back. #Oscars.

A photo posted by Chris Rock (@chrisrock) on Oct 21, 2015 at 8:00am PDT

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The Top Five star also hosted the ceremony back in 2005, but was not well received by the crowd. He was even scolded by Sean Penn for his edgy jokes.

The awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood  & Highland Center and will be live via ABC at 7:00 p.m EST/4:00 p.m PT.