Ellen Hosting Oscars Again

Ellen DeGeneres confirmed today that she'll host the Academy Awards for the second time. She previously hosted the 2007 Oscars, a turn that earned her an Emmy nomination.

Paul Lee from ABC, which broadcasts the awards, said he and the show's producers are "honored" to welcome Ellen back. "She is the consummate entertainer, equally beloved by her peers in the industry, movie fans and television viewers. We very much look forward to having her back on ABC for Oscar Sunday," said Lee, according to Variety.

Openly gay producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan also gushed about DeGeneres's return. "We are thrilled to have Ellen DeGeneres host the Oscars," they said. "As a longtime friend, we had always hoped to find a project for us to do together and nothing could be more exciting than teaming up to do the Oscars. There are few stars today who have Ellen's gift for comedy, with her great warmth and humanity. She is beloved everywhere and we expect that the audience at the Dolby Theatre, and in homes around the globe, will be as excited by this news as we are."

With this announcement, gay and lesbian entertainers now have a near monopoly on the awards circuit. Neil Patrick Harris, you'll recall, is leading the Emmy Awards this year, his second time, and NPH has done the same four times for the Tony Awards. Now, if only we could get Sir Ian McKellen and Laverne Cox to tag team the Golden Globes...