Jimmy Kimmel has revealed how much his salary will be for hosting next year’s Academy Awards.
The LA-based comedian, who hosts the late night chat show Jimmy Kimmel Live! in the US, will be taking up hosting duties for the first time in 2017. Kimmel follows previous hosts Ellen Degeneres, Seth MacFarlane, and last year’s host Chris Rock in being booked for the role.
The late-night TV host said he will be getting just $15,000 (£12,000) for the event, which is surprisingly low compared with last year’s Oscars goodie bag which was worth $232,000.
When asked about the reason behind the small payment on KROQ’s The Kevin & Bean Show, he said: “You know why? I think it’s illegal to pay nothing.
“I’m not sure I was supposed to reveal this. But nobody told me not to. I consider this their fault.”
Yes, I am hosting the Oscars. This is not a prank. And if it is, my revenge on @TheAcademy will be terrible & sweet. Thx to @alsformalwear
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) December 5, 2016
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Kimmel was announced as host on December 5, later than usual, which he claims was because he was low on the list of invitees. “They asked like 14 people and they all said no and then there was me. I absolutely was surprised,” he said.
He added: “The producers and the Academy went through a long list of names, and in the end, they decided that – since I am already right across the street from where they do the show – I was the closest person to host.”
Kimmel previously hosted the Emmy Awards in 2012 and 2016.
The 89th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on February 26, 2017.
Nominations for this year’s Oscars will be revealed on January 24 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Beverly Hills. A luncheon for the nominees will be held on February 6, before voting for the awards by the Academy will begin on February 13, with votes closing a week later on February 21.
Early odds for the highly-coveted Best Picture award see the Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone-starring La La Land as the early favourite, with Manchester By The Sea and Moonlight also in contention.