John Stewart selected as Academy Awards host

LOS ANGELES -- Jon Stewart has been tapped to host this year's Oscars, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced Thursday.

The Academy Awards show's producer said Stewart has many of the qualities of previous masters of ceremonies.

"Jon is the epitome of a perfect host -- smart, engaging, irreverent and funny," producer Gil Cates said.

Stewart, 43, hosts Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," which has earned seven Emmys and a Peabody award. He has previous experience hosting awards shows, taking over the Grammys in 2001 and 2002.

He won the 2005 Thurber Prize for American Humor for his book, "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction" and has appeared in movies including "The Faculty," "Death to Smoochy" and "Big Daddy."

"As a performer, I'm truly honored to be hosting the show," Stewart said, then joked: "Although, as an avid watcher of the Oscars, I can't help but be a little disappointed with the choice. It appears to be another sad attempt to smoke out Billy Crystal."

Rock drew younger viewers, but his barbs skewering stars like Jude Law, Tobey Maguire and others alienated some academy members. Rock is currently producing and narrating "Everybody Hates Chris," a UPN sitcom based on his life.

The 78th annual Academy Awards will air March 5 on ABC from Hollywood.