Ellen hosting the 79th Academy Awards

So the news today is that Ellen Degeneres will be hosting the 86th Oscars in March.  I’m extremely pleased by this, especially after the bizarre sexism from Seth MacFarlane last year.  Ellen last hosted in 2007 when The Departed (ugh) won best picture.  I remember enjoying her hosting job, though I don’t recall any particular gags or jokes*, but that’s never been Ellen’s style.  If you’ve ever watched her stand-up, her gift is telling funny stories instead of jokes.  I’ve always been a huge fan of hers, and she has a gift for being warm while also bitingly hilarious, all as she maintains a constant level of entertainment.  She may not hit the highs that some other hosts, but she rarely has the lows either.

She’s comfortable on TV and on stage, and most likely will have interviewed most of the nominees by the time the show rolls around.  The hosts have been hit or miss lately, with some highs (Billy Crystal, Hugh Jackman, Jon Stewart) and some lows (MacFarlane and James Franco).  I think Ellen will be another high, as she struck just the right tone last time.

*As I wrote this my memory came back to me, and I remember some bits of her comedy, including the silhouette acrobatic troupe and Ellen vacuuming at the end of the show.

What do you think?  Are you excited that Ellen will be hosting again?  Is The Departed the most disappointing Best Picture winner in recent memory?  Who’s your all-time favorite Oscar host?  Let me know in the comments!