Awards show hosts have an incredibly difficult job. Sure, most awards show ceremonies have a slew of presenters for each individual award, but the host is the glue that holds it all together. They need to be funny, professional, and composed, but not stiff. And it’s hard to turn things around if they don’t get off on the right foot. An opening monologue that falls flat can set the tone for an excruciatingly long and awkward show to come.
Those who tune in from home can list a number of awards show hosts that majorly dropped the ball. These kinds of hosts inspire lots of chatter online for people who want to relive the second-hand-embarrassment multiple times. But it’s also important to recognize the hosts who did a great job. Rolling with unexpected occurrences, keeping the energy up, and not outshining the talent is a delicate dance. Here are 20 of the best awards show hosts ever.
20 Ricky Gervais
Golden Globes (2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2020)
Part of the fun of awards show ceremonies is seeing our favorite celebrities get all dolled up and out of whatever attire we’re used to seeing them in on our favorite shows and movies. No more is the divide between stars and us “normies” more apparent than at awards shows. Sometimes celebrities like to pretend this doesn’t exist, and other times they play off of it. The latter is the route actor and comedian Ricky Gervais often goes down. He has hosted the Golden Globes five times, and is quick to make fun of himself and his fellow A-listers.
A Dose of Reality
Gervais’ jokes toe the edge of acceptability/politeness, and the fact that they’re usually directed at people a few feet away is what makes them gold. It’s a toss-up if what’s better is his jokes or the reactions of those in the crowd. Some crack up, while others sport a tight smile and try not to look upset. Gervais says what many people wish they could tell the members of a particularly out-of-touch industry. During the 2020 ceremony, even he broke character, getting out some of his more risqué lines. But the public was sure glad he did.
19 Kevin Hart
BET Awards (2011), MTV Video Music Awards (2012), MTV Movie Awards (2016)
It’d seem that an experienced stand-up comedian would soar as an awards show host. Of course, time and again, plenty of comedians have proved that not to be the case. Kevin Hart is one of the few that has gotten it right. He started his hosting career with the BET Awards back in 2011 and has since done MTV Video Music Awards twice. He was set to host the Oscars in 2019, but had to step down after controversy surrounding homophobic tweets from years prior. Despite this incident, many believe Hart could’ve done well as the host due to his previous hosting gigs.
Short-Lived Hosting Career?
The reason Hart makes a great show host is similar to what’s made him a great leading comedic actor. He’s proved he can work well alongside others and with all the pressure on his shoulders. When he hosted the VMAs with his buddy Dwayne Johnson, the two bounced off each other and played off each other’s strengths. Yet even on his own, he is charismatic, full of energy, and willing to make fun of himself. Not knowing what his future in hosting holds, it’s nice to take time to appreciate his past performances.
18 Anne Hathaway
Academy Awards (2011)
Anne Hathaway has been in the business for a long time, but she was still an Academy Awards newbie when she was set to host the 83rd ceremony back in 2011. Up until that point, she’d been nominated just once for Best Actress for her work in a drama called Rachel Getting Married. Hathaway is typically included in the discourse of the worst award show hosts. However, that title isn’t exactly fair. Most people recognize that between her and co-host James Franco, he was the one who missed the mark. Hathaway did her best to save the lackluster performance of Franco and handled it with great poise.
Room to Grow
Sure, she wasn’t spectacular in her own right, but she did her best with what she was given. Despite this blip, Hathaway has already demonstrated qualities that not all hosts possess. Oftentimes, when the public expresses opinions about a host doing a bad job, said host digs their heels in even more. They’ll claim the audience is “too sensitive” or “people can’t tell jokes anymore” or some variation of that. Instead, Hathaway has taken aboard the critiques and can even laugh at them. On Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Hathaway succinctly admitted, “We sucked.”
17 Martin Short
Canadian Screen Awards (2013)
Martin Short is an adored actor and Broadway star currently starring in the hit Hulu comedy mystery Only Murders in the Building. His character on the show, Oliver Putnam, is flamboyant and quirky, with a flair for the dramatic. Perhaps he didn’t have to tap into a different persona to achieve the character’s personality, as evidenced by his stand-up career and the various hosting gigs he’s done.
Comfortable on Stage
An often-forgotten part of his career was as the host of his own talk show, simply titled The Martin Short Show, which aired for just one year. In 2013, the Ontario-born star had the privilege of hosting the first-ever Canadian Screen Awards. As a new event, it didn’t have as many eyes on it as some of the others. Which was a shame, because Short knocked his hosting duties out of the park. Some of the bits were admittedly a little corny, but in a way only Short could pull off. With his signature theatrical way of speaking, it was a treat to watch him emcee the event.
16 Queen Latifah
American Music Awards (1995), Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards (1996), Independent Spirit Awards (1999), Vibe Awards (2003), Grammy Awards (2005), People’s Choice Awards (2007-2011), BET Awards (2010), Hollywood Film Awards (2014), NAACP Image Awards (2023)
Queen Latifah is a singer and rapper turned actress, who started creating her legacy in the late-80s. Even outside of her songs or acting roles, Latifah is no stranger to entertaining people through words. She had her very own daytime talk show, The Queen Latifah Show, which ran from 1999-2001 and then later from 2013-2015. Her time as the face of this program proved she was capable of excelling at a hosting gig. And she has on multiple occasions. BET Awards. People’s Choice Awards. American Music Awards. Soul Train Lady Awards. Grammy Awards. Most recently, in 2023, she even hosted the NAACP Image Awards.
Smooth Talker
In each of these roles, she blends her musical talent and comedic timing she honed on shows like Living Single. From each hosting stint, Latifah proves she still has the coolness that she was known for in the early days of her fame. She comes across as down to earth and real, which is always appreciated in the ultra-polished world of celebrity.
Even when she’s not the main host, she captures attention. During the 56th Grammy Awards in 2014, Latifah officiated over thirty weddings, many of which were same-sex couples to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. Whether it’s an awards ceremony for music, acting, or anything else, Latifah can surely handle the challenge.
15 Hugh Jackman
Academy Awards (2009)
Nowadays, much of the public understands the wide range Hugh Jackman has. His breakout role was as Wolverine in the X-Men series, but the actor expanded into voice work and musicals. Die-hard supporters may ask: is there anything he can’t do? Hosting a prestigious award show may have been a question mark before he took it on in 2009 at the Academy Awards. One thing that can be a nail in the coffin of a hosting performance is taking oneself too seriously. It’s understandable, as respected actors are staring at them from the front rows, and millions online waiting for any slip-up to turn into a trending hashtag.
Work with What You’ve Got
If Jackman felt any nerves, he shook them off within the first few minutes by opening up with a musical number. It gave everyone a glimpse of the show-stopping numbers he’d later do in films like The Greatest Showman. During the performance, he even poked fun at the Oscars’ nomination preferences, singing, “How come comic book movies never get nominated?”
This opening worked not just because it was hilarious (especially when he brought Anne Hathaway onstage), but because it played to his strengths. Instead of trudging through stiff jokes in a pseudo stand-up comedy special bit, he brought out his love for theater and it paid off.
14 Jane Lynch
Emmy Awards (2011)
Jane Lynch brought out her Glee singing (or lip-syncing) skills when she opened up the Emmys in 2011. After a hilarious skit that poked fun at the public perception of her, she slipped into an opening number where she masterfully regained control over a near-stumble and joined forces with the cast of The Big Bang Theory. Granted, the Emmys are known for going with their opening sequences, but Lynch’s remains one of the best.
Why She Was Great
She was only the third woman to host the awards show without a co-host, according to UsWeekly. Lynch has been in the business for decades, and she’s best known for comedies. Over her career, she’s been nominated for 13 Emmy Awards, winning five of them. All that experience was evident during her hosting gig. She even took a playful shot at another entrant on this list, Ricky Gervais. Her presence reminded us why, even when she’s playing an antagonist, she’s so fun to watch.
13 Neil Patrick Harris
TV Land Awards (2009), Tony Awards (2009, 2011-2013), Emmy Awards (2009, 2013), Spike Video Game Awards (2010), Academy Awards (2015)
Neil Patrick Harris has received several award nominations and wins from the Emmys, Tonys, and SAG Awards, among others. For an actor as experienced as him, that isn’t too much of a shock. However, he also received awards not due to the films or television programs he’s been in, but because of his exemplary hosting skills. Harris has hosted the Tony Awards four times, the Emmys twice, and the Oscars once. While it’s nice for these programs to switch things up now and then, when they find something that’s working, why change it?
Truly a Master of Ceremonies
His performances are the definition of not taking yourself too seriously. He serenades the audience with a ballad while playing guitar, jumps through a hula-hoop, almost gets headbutted by Mike Tyson, performs a vanishing act, raps about actors, and does high kicks in a precision dance line. And that’s all just during one opening act for the 2013 Tony Awards.
The portions when he’s on-screen are often the most entertaining moments of the show, and that feeling is reflected in the faces of the stars who’ve attended their fair share of these events. Each year, it was a question of whether he’d be able to top himself, and thus far he’s managed to do it.
12 Jimmy Fallon
MTV Movie Awards (2001, 2005), MTV Video Music Awards (2002), Emmy Awards (2010), Golden Globes (2017)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is one of the most popular late-night talk shows in the United States. Jimmy Fallon encourages his celebrity interviewees to divulge embarrassing or wild personal stories through a deluge of laughter. Or he participates in a multitude of viral games such as Catchphrase, Wheel of Musical Impressions, and Box of Lies. Even before the hit 2014 came to be, he had practice honing the art of conversation with various hosting gigs.
Classic Fallon
In the early-2000s, he co-hosted the VMAs twice. It was refreshing to see a younger Fallon as he grew into his craft and became comfortable with the spotlight. Later in 2010, he was back to emceeing, this time for the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. His cheap shot at fellow talk host Conan O’Brien while strumming a guitar is one of many memorable moments from that night. Fallon was certainly a lot more put together than his VMA hosting job, but he still delivered the characteristic Fallon humor many have grown to love or love to hate.
11 Whoopi Goldberg
Grammy Awards (1992), Academy Awards (1994, 1996, 1999, 2002), Tony Awards (2008)
If there’s one person the Academy trusts to host their show, it’s Whoopi Goldberg. The View co-host has hosted the Oscars four times, starting in 1994. She made history as the first solo woman as well as the first Black woman to host the show. Even during her first time hosting, the actress didn’t seem nervous or like she was letting the pressure get to her. A couple of years prior, she hosted the Grammy Awards, so she already had practice leading big-time events.
A Solid Choice
Goldberg brought a great deal of poise to each show. Nowadays, she’s famous for giving her hot takes alongside her co-hosts on The View, and it seems that comes naturally to her. While hosting, she’d not hesitate to bring up political issues, whether explicitly or in subtle ways. Don’t let that convince you her iconic monologues are heavy downers. She knows how to balance self-deprecation and making fun of the stars. Recipients of said jokes are often the ones laughing the hardest, so Goldberg knows how far to push it.
10 LL Cool J
Soul Train Music Awards (1996-1997), Soul Train Laddy of Soul Awards (1998), Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (2000), American Music Awards (2001), NAACP Image Awards (2007), Grammy Awards (2012-2016), iHeartRadio Music Awards (2022)
They call him LL Cool J. He’s a rapper, producer, actor, and occasionally, a pretty good awards show host. He’s a two-time Grammy Award winner and has appeared in various films over the years. If that wasn’t enough, he’s also taken on a multitude of hosting gigs and shown he has a true talent for keeping programs on course. He’s hosted the Soul Train Awards, Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards, the iHeart Music Awards, and more.
Can’t Teach Charisma
Another hosting role he obtained, albeit not an awards show, was on Lip Sync Battle, where he helped bring forth plenty of iconic moments. Tom Holland dressing up as Rihanna and dancing in the rain? LL Cool J was there. Channing Tatum dueting with Beyoncé as they sing “Run the World (Girls)”? LL Cool J was also there.
But one of his best stints as an awards show host was his time heading the Grammy Awards. He was so loved he hosted for a whopping five straight years. It made sense to have someone with a clear love for music and an understanding of the industry. He’s charismatic, doesn’t try too hard to get laughs, and genuinely appears to be enjoying himself.
9 Steve Martin
Academy Awards (2001, 2003, 2010)
Steve Martin has been making millions laugh for a long time with his slapstick humor that often features his character or himself in uncomfortable situations. He’s starred in classic comedies like Cheaper By the Dozen series. In the sequel, his character feuded with Eugene Levy and both comedians together were comedic gold. He was a guest host on Saturday Night Love 16 times, and if someone thought he’d run out of material, he never appeared to.
Great Solo or with a Partner
He took those hosting capabilities with him for the Academy Awards thrice, two times by himself. From the get-go, Martin was calm and balanced the social commentary and Hollywood jokes wonderfully. And he recognizes it’s no easy gig. He recently offered support to Jo Koy after receiving criticism for his Golden Globes hosting gig this year, stating, “I’m still throwing up from the last time I did it in 2010.” Though the Oscars didn’t have an official host in 2020, he opened the ceremony alongside Chris Rock and confirmed that he’s still one of the greatest comedic actors of all time.
8 Kristen Bell
SAG Awards (2018)
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (more commonly known as SAG-AFTRA) puts on the Screen Actors Guild Awards annually to recognize great achievements in the industry. It feels a bit more niche. Actress Kristen Bell, who hosted in 2018, even said it’s a show, “for actors, by actors.” Despite it not being as famous as the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, or Emmys, it still comes with a lot of pressure and honor. Especially since Bell marked for the first time (in for)ever that the show would ever have a host. Talk about pressure.
Simple Execution
The Frozen actress is known for her bubbly, energetic personality, and that came across during the show while also maintaining an air of professionalism. When she roped in the crowd of her peers for bits, she did it in ways that felt natural and didn’t make those around her uncomfortable. She poked fun at herself, her husband Dax Shepard, and the state of the world, calling The Handmaid’s Tale a “documentary” rather than a dystopian drama about a world where women have no rights. While her hosting may not be the flashiest on this list, it didn’t need to be and worked well for this event.
7 Johnny Carson
Academy Awards (1979-1982, 1984)
If there’s one name that people associate with the archetypal awards show host, it’s Johnny Carson. He got his start on radio, but once he transitioned to television, he found his niche and never looked back. Carson was the face of the hit program The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, which aired for 30 years. It wasn’t until 2013 that another show (David Letterman’s) overtook him for the longest-running talk show in the United States. His influence can be seen and felt in subsequent shows.
A Classic Choice
His first major awards show hosting stint occurred in 1979 at the Academy Awards. Carson went on to host the next three and then again in 1984. Carson was quick to rag on celebrities in his bits, so that kept everyone watching at home (and surely those attending in person) on their toes wondering who’d be his target. He didn’t always aim outward, as he used his own controversies and legal troubles during opening monologues. Carson’s jokes would likely rub people the wrong way today, but it’s hard to imagine what the Oscars and talk shows would look like without his contributions.
6 Rosie O’Donnell
Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (1996-2003), Tony Awards (2000), Grammy Awards (1999-2000)
Rosie O’Donnell enjoys stepping into many different areas, both within the entertainment industry and beyond. She’s in film, television, on Broadway, hosted her own show, sat as a co-host on The View, is a producer, and a philanthropist. How she found the time to tack on multiple awards show hosting gigs (and excel at them) is beyond comprehension. She hosted the Kids’ Choice Awards eight times from the mid-90s to early-2000s. She later switched to an older demographic when she ran the Tony Awards three times and the Grammys twice.
What Makes Her Great
In 1998, she opened the Tonys with a “Broadway Divas” medley, and it was just as iconic as it sounds. What’s great about her is she doesn’t mind letting other performers shine. The other singers were incredible and that didn’t take anything away from O’Donnell. When she laughs at her jokes, it makes her more down-to-earth. Though she’s busy with many other projects, if she expressed interest in hosting again, audiences would not leave disappointed.
5 Jon Stewart
Academy Awards (2006, 2008)
Jon Stewart is a political commentator and comedian who hosted The Daily Show from 1999 to 2015. It was taken over by the insanely talented Trevor Noah, but many people still loved what Stewart brought to the show. He knew when to flip the switch in serious interviews and discussions, and when to use the chaos and turmoil in the world for laughs. It’s hard to know when and to what degree to use current events for jokes, but Stewart pulled it off.
What Makes Him Great
Stewart hosted the Oscars twice, once in 2006 and again in 2008. Of course, given his political background, he had to throw in remarks surrounding that, but it never veered into soapbox territory. Whether he was dreaming of waking up with Halle Berry or pointing out the treatment of writers in Hollywood, Stewart knows how to keep things entertaining.
4 Jimmy Kimmel
American Music Awards (2003-2004, 2006-2008), Emmy Awards (2012, 2016, 2020), Academy Awards (2018, 2023-2024)
Jimmy Kimmel is the other late-night Jimmy talk show host. Jimmy Kimmel Live! draws in viewers not just for the famous guests, but for his pedestrian interview series, Family Feud segments, and his recurring gag where he shows parents telling their kids they ate all their Halloween candy. Cruel? Maybe a little? Hilarious? Very much so. Kimmel has done some acting, though he appears to be focusing on other ventures as of late. Hosting is one area he continues to do, and he’s largely received praise each time he takes center stage.
Cool, Calm, and Collected
The American Music Awards love to have him, as do the Emmys; however, his best work is often touted as his Academy Awards gigs. He’s hosted the show two times, soon to be three in 2024. For some hosts, it seems like they’re counting down the time waiting until the excruciatingly long minutes of their monologue are over. On the flip side, Kimmel seems totally at ease and in full control.
Even on his talk show, there’s an authenticity that radiates off Kimmel. While he’s prepared, he doesn’t seem overly rehearsed and stiff, allowing the attendees to loosen their ties a bit. Kimmel arrived at the 2023 ceremony from the ceiling via a parachute and everyone can only guess what he has up his sleeve next.
3 John Mulaney
Independent Spirit Awards (2017-2018), Governors Awards (2024)
John Mulaney is yet another comedian who gained industry recognition through his work with SNL. He did not fade into the background during his five years on the show and made the most of his time there before moving on. Even though he’s worked on countless other projects since leaving the show, he never turned back on his roots, appearing on SNL multiple times. Mulaney’s career didn’t follow the trajectory most would’ve expected. He wrote a children’s musical comedy and performed as part of a duo on Broadway.
Send Him to the Main Stage
Mulaney has hosted smaller awards shows, like the Independent Spirit Awards and the Governors Awards. The latter is a smaller ceremony that presents three awards put on by The Academy. If they or anyone else questioned whether Mulaney could handle the pressure of hosting an event like the Oscars, the Governors Awards should’ve put those doubts to rest. Only a fraction of the general public even know this show exists, and it’s a shame they missed out on Mulaney’s smart and natural show. If he can get the notoriously stoic Cillian Murphy to smile, you know he did a fantastic job.
2 Ellen Degeneres
Emmy Awards (1994, 2001, 2005), Grammy Awards (1996-1997), Academy Awards (2007, 2014)
Ellen DeGeneres had quite a successful acting career in the ’90s, though to most people she’s the host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often referred to simply as The Ellen Show. In recent years, her reputation and that of the show have been mired in some controversy, and it’s somewhat tainted the legacy. Taking that into consideration, her show did have a successful run and was a monumental hit for a daytime talk show that was equally popular across generations. The only other venture that could close to the popularity this show had for her is her voicing the lovable blue tang Dory in Finding Nemo and the long-anticipated Finding Dory.
The Photo That Went Viral
DeGeneres has hosted the Emmys and Grammys, but her most-talked-about performances were the two times she hosted the Oscars. It was a time to be alive witnessing her walking through the crowd and gathering some of Hollywood’s best talent to pose together in a selfie. Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Lupita Nyong’o, and Julia Roberts were just a few roped into the photo. Truly, no moment since has been able to top it. As with her talk show, she never gets too explicit and genuinely keeps things upbeat and fun. It was as if the world was watching an episode of Ellen but with hundreds of celebrity guests instead of one.
1 Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
Golden Globes (2013-2015, 2021)
Both Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are individually fantastic comedians. Fey is behind a few of the most memorable and expertly crafted pieces of entertainment of the last couple of decades. 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt are just a few highlights on her resumé. Poehler’s portrayal of Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation, as well as her incredible voice work as Joy in Pixar’s Inside Out, cement her as a force to be reckoned with.
Two for One
Magic happens when these two collaborate. They did it numerous times on SNL, indirectly on Mean Girls, and while hosting several awards shows together. Whenever a host receives criticism and claims people “aren’t allowed to tell jokes anymore,” people push back at Fey and Poehler’s hosting gigs. Going for the cheapest joke or lowest-hanging fruit isn’t simply “offensive,” it’s lazy. These two ladies don’t rely on that.
During the 2015 Golden Globe Awards, they highlighted the irony of George Clooney winning a lifetime achievement award when his wife Amal is so accomplished in the human and international rights world. Neither had to belittle Clooney nor did they have to lean on racism or sexism to make it a memorable night. They’ve hosted that particular show four times, and it’s easy to see why.
