Steve Martin, the beloved comedian and actor known for his roles in Only Murders in the Building, has hosted the Oscars three times in his illustrious career. Fans are eagerly hoping he'll step up to the mic one more time, but there's a twist. In a candid conversation, Steve revealed why he's not so keen on returning to the big stage. Let's dive in and see what's going on in the mind of this legendary entertainer.
Steve Martin and Martin Short: A Dynamic Duo
During an interview with the Los Angeles Times on Monday, August 19, Steve Martin, now 79, was asked whether he'd ever consider hosting the Oscars again, this time alongside his long-time buddy and collaborator Martin Short, who’s 74. These two comedic geniuses have been thick as thieves for over three decades, sharing the screen in memorable films like Three Amigos!, Father of the Bride, and The Prince of Egypt. So, would they reunite for the Oscars? Not so fast, says Steve.
Why the Oscars Might Not Be in Steve's Future Plans
Steve confessed that hosting the Oscars is no small feat—it requires a mountain of preparation and sacrifices. “That represents so much work for us. And we love our summers,” he told the outlet. Back in the day, Steve would start prepping months ahead of time for the Oscars. But things have changed. “Now I have a completely different life. I’m not as free. It’s a lot of work and we’re working,” he explained. Steve and Martin are keeping busy these days with their hit show Only Murders in the Building, co-starring Selena Gomez, and their Dukes of Funnytown Tour.
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A Joke That Never Made It to the Oscars
Steve also shared a joke that he never got the chance to use during his previous Oscar hosting gigs. “I’ll come out and say, ‘I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, ‘Steve, how did you get to host the Oscars?’ It was easy. I just called my agent and I said, ‘Get me something thankless,’” he joked. Classic Steve humor!
Steve hosted the Oscars as a solo act in 2001 and 2003, and then teamed up with Alec Baldwin in 2010. Reflecting on his experiences, Steve admitted, “I’ve hosted the Oscars three times. The first two times, I was very nervous. But I overcame it because I’m a professional. And then the third time, I hosted with Alec Baldwin and I was not nervous at all. Looking back, I realized, ‘Oh, I had someone else out there with me.’”
The Oscars vs. The Golden Globes: A Tale of Two Ceremonies
Steve went on to explain that hosting the Oscars isn’t just a lot of work—it’s also unpaid labor. “They don’t pay, either. The Golden Globes pay, so they get Tina Fey and Amy [Poehler]. And Ricky Gervais,” the comedian noted. “The Oscars should pay. When you consider the amount of work, it’s at least several months of mental churning.”
Jimmy Kimmel's Perspective on Hosting the Oscars
Just recently, Jimmy Kimmel revealed that he turned down the opportunity to host the Oscars in 2025. The Jimmy Kimmel Live! host has already fronted the Oscars four times in the past seven years. “It’s hard and it’s a lot of work and the show suffers a little bit to be honest,” he said. “You wind up pushing everything off till after the Oscars, and then you have to do everything you promised to do after the Oscars, after the Oscars.”
Jimmy admitted that he struggles with balancing multiple responsibilities. “I’m not good at balancing. I’m really not. It’s not one of my strengths,” he shared. “I’m all in when it comes to something like the Oscars. I think about it in the morning and at night, and when I have ideas I want to work on them, and then my nightly show seems like a nuisance.”
Jimmy also pointed out that hosting the Oscars doesn’t come with a hefty paycheck. “It pays nothing,” he said, echoing Steve’s sentiments about the demanding nature of the role.
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