Ellen DeGeneres to Host Next Year’s Oscars

Reaching back to television for a comedy star, the producers of the Academy Awards telecast announced Friday that Ellen DeGeneres would return next hear to host the annual Oscar ceremony.

The producers, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, set off some backlash last year after giving the job to Seth MacFarlane, the creator of the “Family Guy” animated show on the Fox network, and Mr. MacFarlane received some harsh reviews for his crude humor. But ratings were up, especially among the younger viewers the Oscar telecast had been losing.

Ms. DeGeneres has even less to do with the theatrical movie business than Mr. MacFarlane did (his movie “Ted” preceded his appearance) but she is extremely well liked in Hollywood and her performance as the host of the show in 2007 was widely praised.

In typical fashion, she released a jokey response to the honor: “I am so excited to be hosting the Oscars for the second time. You know what they say â€" the third time’s the charm.”

Ms. DeGeneres also has history with ABC, the network that broadcasts the special. He situation comedy, “Ellen,” which made national news when both she and her character came ut as gay in 1997, was broadcast on ABC.

Next year’s ceremony will take place on March 2.