Academy Awards, Oscars, Ellen DeGeneres

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After hosting the 2016 Emmys, Jimmy Kimmel will make his debut as host of the 2017 Academy Awards. In addition to his previous awards show experience, Kimmel has hosted the annual “Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars” special for years.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times; Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times; ABC ; Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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In his second time hosting, Chris Rock addressed the #OscarsSoWhite controversy during the telecast of the 88th Academy Awards on Feb. 28, 2016 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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After multiple stints hosting the Tonys and the Emmys, Neil Patrick Harris was a natural choice to lead the festivities at the 87th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Ellen DeGeneres broke a Twitter record with her star-studded selfie as emcee of the 2014 Academy Awards and won the hearts of hungry actors with freshly delivered pizza. DeGeneres scored with audiences as host in 2007 (above right) with her crowd work as well. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. (Robert Gauthier, Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Though Seth MacFarlane was widely criticized for his 2013 Oscars hosting debut, the awards show saw its best ratings in years with “Family Guy’s” creator at the helm. According to Nielsen, an average of 40.3 million viewers tuned in to hear MacFarlane bash a slew of Hollywood’s A-list. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Considered one of the best of the contemporary comedic hosts, Crystal began his Oscar run with the 62nd telecast in 1990 and remained on the job through 1993. Also add 1997, 1998, 2000 (above left), 2004 and most recently 2012 (above right) to the list. (Bob D’Amico / ABC; Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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In an effort to boost viewership in young demographics, the producers of the 83rd Academy Awards tapped hot “of the moment” actors Hathaway and Franco as hosts for the 2011 ceremony. Many critics felt the hosts didn’t have much chemistry. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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When Martin teamed with his “It’s Complicated” costar Alec Baldwin to co-host 2010’s ceremony, it was his third Oscar hosting appearance. He made his solo debut with the 73rd award show in 2001 and returned to the job in 2003. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Hugh Jackman’s song-and-dance number at the opening of the 81st Academy Awards in 2009 drew barbs from TV critics. The Times’ Mary McNamara said of the performance: “Somewhere in New York, a huge weight has been lifted from David Letterman’s shoulders.” (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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The “Daily Show” host brought his outsider perspective into the heart of Hollywood for his stint as Oscar host in 2006. He poked fun at the awards-cast itself, which generally played better at home than it did in the theater. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Rock hosted the 77th Academy Awards in 2005 and raised many eyebrows with his pointed barbs directed at the assembled celebrities. Years later, Ricky Gervais adopted this tone to great effect at the Golden Globes. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Goldberg, the first African American to win the supporting actress Oscar since Hattie McDaniel won in the category in 1940 for “Gone With the Wind,” began her stint as host with the 66th award ceremony in 1994. She returned in 1996, 1999 (shown in a Queen Elizabeth costume) and 2002. (Timothy White / ABC and AMPAS; Los Angeles Times)

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The “Tonight Show” legend moonlighted as Oscar host beginning with the 51st ceremony in 1979; he went on to host the show four more times. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

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The outrageous funnyman co-hosted the 28th Academy Awards in 1956 in L.A., while Claudette Colbert and writer-director Joseph Mankiewicz hosted a satellite ceremony in New York. He revisited the role in 1957. Lewis and his wife, SanDee, above, pictured at the Cannes Film Festival in 1983. (Larry Armstrong / Los Angeles Times)

By Christy Khoshaba

March 2, 2014 10 AM PT

Ah, the role of the Oscar host: to entertain without being offensive, to crack jokes that aren’t too insider-y and to think on one’s feet. Sounds simple in theory. But when it comes to practice, it can be a whole other story.

To concoct the perfect Oscar host formula, the Academy has tried it all. It’s gone with one host to two hosts to four hosts. It’s tried young hosts and old hosts. It’s even run the show without a host -- does 1989 year ring a bell for anyone?

The telecast that year raised the curtains to a singing Rob Lowe and a dancing actress as Snow White. Things only got stranger as the evening progressed. But strange proved to be prosperous -- the program earned the title as one of the highest-rated Oscars of that decade.

FULL COVERAGE: Oscars 2014

After that go-around, the Academy hit the jackpot with comedian Billy Crystal. Considered to be one of the best Oscars hosts, Crystal began his run in the 1990s and continued to host on and off through 2004. After a slew of odd hosts cropped up after Crystal, the Academy asked the funnyman to return as its prime entertainer in 2012. Those stalwart Oscar viewers sure were nostalgic for the Crystal years. But somehow Crystal’s take as host just didn’t work, and he earned less-than-stellar reviews.

Still, Crystal goes down as one of the classic Oscar hosts. Add to that comedian Bob Hope, who held the honors a record 18 times. Hope was the first host to take the stage solo. And comedian Whoopi Goldberg was the first woman to do the same.

Most recently, “Family Guy” comedian Seth MacFarlane took the helm and certainly became one of the most memorable, or should we say naughtiest, of them all. But again the unexpected prevailed, and the show averaged 40 million viewers, giving the program its best ratings in years.

PHOTOS: See Glenn Whipp’s 2014 Oscar picks | See pundits’ Oscar 2014 picks

Also unexpected were hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco. The duo was deemed “of the moment.” It was the Academy’s attempt to reel in younger viewers. Hey, it takes trial and error. Only thing is, the pair didn’t have much chemistry. Hathaway? Too much energy. Franco? Not enough of it.

But when it comes to energy, this year the pendulum swings back to comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who reprises her role as Oscar host after 2007. A safe choice, a reliable choice. And a pro, who has hosted the Emmys and Grammys -- twice apiece.

As we’ve learned, a great host or pair of hosts can boost a telecast’s ratings. The Golden Globes have been cranking in record ratings for the past few years, and one of the reasons is that the jamboree has spun in the same always-funny, always-consistent hosts time and again. From 2009 to 2011, Ricky Gervais ran the show. And for the past two years, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler took the helm, with another year on their contracts. Viewers like it.

Now let’s see what they think of DeGeneres, take two.

Before that happens, though, you many recall the hosts you personally came to love or loathe. Take a look at our photo gallery above to read about the hosts who’ve taken the stage since the Academy Awards premiere telecast in 1929, with Academy president Douglas Fairbanks as host. Boy, have times changed.

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FULL COVERAGE: Oscars 2014

OSCARS 2014: The complete list of winners and nominees

OSCARS 2014: Academy Awards through the years

Follow Christy Khoshaba on Twitter @ChristyKhoshaba