Why Pete Davidson Is No Longer in The Race for Hosting Oscars 2022

When ABC announced that the Oscars would finally have a host this year after being host-less for three consecutive years, people were betting on their favorite celebrities to host.

Earlier this week, there were rumors suggesting Pete Davidson would be hosting in a bid to attract the younger masses. However, it is now being reported that the actor/comedian is no longer in the race.

According to Variety, sources have stated that Davidson’s reps had some “informal” talks with the Academy’s producers but to no avail.

As the Academy Awards have been at an all-time low in terms of viewership, the early rumors had speculated that Davidson’s involvement would be buzzworthy. The SNL actor has repeatedly been a hot topic with the NBC New Year’s Eve show that he co-hosted with Miley Cyrus, bringing in 6.3 million viewers.

As the report puts it, “Davidson is too closely associated with NBC” and hence isn’t a part of ABC’s talent roster – meaning Davidson hosting the ABC-broadcasted Oscars would be like a free promotion for NBC.

When the Academy’s official Twitter account asked people who they would “hypothetically” consider to host this year’s Oscars, thousands of people replied, with some celebrities even dropping by to nominate themselves.

Variety also recently talked to Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment president Craig Erwich about who he thinks some strong contenders might be. Erwich said that Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short, who co-star in Only Murders in the Building, could co-host the event.

Oscars 2022 will also have multiple hosts. This seems like a perfect mix as Gomez will attract many younger viewers. Martin has previously hosted the Oscars twice, giving the trio an expert’s insight. As for Short… he is Martin Short! What else would he need to bring to the table?

I mean, they are an iconic trio. They have mass appeal. Everybody loves them. They’d be a dream. That said, there’s a lot of incredible talent we’re considering. We’re having ongoing conversations with Will and the Academy about it.

Ultimately, Oscars producer Will Packer, the Academy and ABC’s team make the final call, but Erwich’s enthusiasm makes for a promising expectation.

Various talent agents have been flooding the Academy and pitching their clients for the gig. Current top runners are big names like Lady Gaga, Denzel Washington, Nicole Kidman, Will Smith, Kristen Stewart, Tom Holland, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

It’d be interesting to see who finally gets the job. After a three-year leap, the event is sure to be nerve-wracking. As the Academy is trying hard to regain its lost charm, the host is expected to be someone who can draw in more viewers.