Jimmy Kimmel readily admits to being nervous about hosting the Oscars for the first time this Sunday and turned to Ellen DeGeneres, the most successful of the recent emcees for advice. He dropped by her daytime talker on Thursday where she reflected on her two turns presiding over the Academy Awards in 2007 and 2014.
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The generous DeGeneres said she wanted Kimmel to shine on Sunday but noted that they only had a few days to get him red carpet ready. Reacting to that astute observation, Kimmel quipped, “You’re thinking we could’ve used more time? Because Oprah told me I’m beautiful just the way I am.”
DeGeneres brought out beauty expert Kym Douglas who eyed Kimmel up and down before dispensing her advice. To get him to glow she first applied a face mask. “I feel wet and uncomfortable,” moaned Kimmel. But that was nothing compared to his the head-shaking spa to which he was then subjected before he was squeezed into a contraption designed to give him an hour-glass shape as well as sauna pants.
Oscar Best Picture Gallery: History of Every Academy Award-Winning Movie
At that point, his pal DeGeneres had him jump on a mini trampoline to get his blood pumping. Instead, it started the wisecracks flowing, with Kimmel quipping, “I feel like I’m going to end up on the no-fly list as a result of this.”
Kimmel has made no secret of his desire to host the Oscars. For the better part of the decade, he has hosted a special “After the Oscars” edition of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” immediately following the show from his set across Hollywood Boulevard, so now he gets to go inside the Dolby Theater.
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