Academy Awards Quiz: Kick Back and Enjoy the Show with This Oscar Hosts Quiz
Written by Jessica Holom
Last updated · 4 min play time
Which Oscar hosts were the most memorable? Take a walk down the red carpet with this Oscar Hosts Quiz!
"Nothing can take the sting out of world economic problems like watching millionaires present each other with golden statues." – Billy Crystal
Whether you're from the old-school days of the Academy with Bob Hope running the show or have only just tuned in within the last decade when the likes of Chris Rock and Jimmy Kimmel took center stage, the Oscars would be remiss without a proper emcee to guide the show (at least, we assumed it would be until 2019, when the show went hostless).
Oscar hosts might take jabs at the stars in the audience, or they might be more amiable, focusing their attention on a well-choreographed opening number. Whatever their chosen course, the host sets the tone for the evening.
What tone did these Oscar hosts set? Take our Oscar Hosts Quiz to see who you remember fondly...and who got panned by critics the next day.
Test your Entertainment Knowledge
"Good evening, Hollywood phonies." – Chevy Chase
Do you remember all these Hollywood phonies? Then, you'll be sure to ace our Oscar Hosts Quiz.
Test your Academy Awards knowledge by naming all these famous Oscar hosts, some of whom have won Oscars, themselves. Think you have what it takes? Then tell us who co-hosted with Anne Hathaway and was panned by critics. What actor of <i>The Greatest Showman</i> proved he really was quite the showman as host? What creator of <i>Family Guy</i> brought the crass, while others brought the class? If the Academy Awards is your favorite night of television, then you've got this Oscar Hosts Quiz in the bag!
Remember to thank the Academy when you ace this Oscar Hosts Quiz! And then try our many other Academy Awards quizzes.
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Can't get enough of the Oscars? Then try our Best Pictures Quiz or our Best Actor Quiz. If you're sick of the Academy, then move on over to your favorite streaming service with our Netflix original series trivia. Is theatre more your thing? Our Broadway musicals quiz will have you singing along to showtunes. Whatever your pop culture niche, QuizGriz has the trivia to satisfy your sweet-tooth.
Quiz written by
Jessica HolomJessica Holom is a freelance writer and digital nomad with a background in literature, art, and writing. She believes curiosity never killed a single cat and enjoys learning, world-exploring, and writing about both.
Oscar Hosts Quiz Questions
15 Questions · 78 Plays · No comments
Question 1
Known for When Harry Met Sally, what beloved Oscar host is second only to Bob Hope in the number of times he's emceed?
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ABilly Crystal
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BCharlton Heston
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CFred Astaire
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DDouglas Fairbanks
Billy Crystal
One of the most highly favored Oscar hosts, Billy Crystal has hosted nine times, mostly in the '90s, and also in 2000, 2004, and 2012. He is said to have "reinvented the job" during his early '90s stint.
Question 2
This five-time Oscar host is one of the most beloved Tonight Show hosts of all time. Name that "King of Late Night".
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AJay Leno
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BJohnny Carson
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CConan O'Brien
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DJimmy Fallon
Johnny Carson
"Heeerrreee's Johnny!" The "King of Late Night" was also the king of the Academy Awards. Johnny Carson's ease with hosting – and with schmoozing celebrities – showed in his five performances at the Oscars.
Question 3
This host is a class act. What favorite SNL cast member and "Father of the Bride" has taken to the Oscars stage solo twice?
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AJames Stewart
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BHugh Jackman
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CFrank Sinatra
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DSteve Martin
Steve Martin
Steve Martin hosted on his own in 2001 and 2003. The fan-favorite is a natural performer, and his wit and intelligence never go out of style. As a side note, the crew said Martin was incredibly low-maintenance. Makes you wonder what the other divas were like.
Question 4
The host of a self-named daytime show, which Oscar emcee broke the internet with her Tweet heard round the world?
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AEllen DeGeneres
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BJane Fonda
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CWhoopi Goldberg
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DGoldie Hawn
Ellen DeGeneres
Not many women can say they've hosted the Oscars solo, but Ellen DeGeneres did just that in 2007 and 2014, and she did an all-around wonderful job of it. DeGeneres kept it light and even manufactured a selfie-heard-round-the-world, when she tweeted out a pic with some serious celebrity star power. At the time, it was the most retweeted pic ever on Twitter.
Question 5
This two-time host was the unfortunate emcee when the Best Picture flub occurred...and he made a ton of Matt Damon jokes. Name that Live late-nighter.
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AJimmy Fallon
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BBen Affleck
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CJimmy Kimmel
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DJimmy Stewart
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel was the last to host the Oscars before they went hostless in 2019. For two consecutive years, he entertained, working in his <i>Jimmy Kimmel Live!</i> vendetta with Matt Damon. But most will probably remember him for the Best Picture fiasco, when <i>La La Land</i> was announced as the winner in lieu of <i>Moonlight</i>, although the incident was out of his control.
Question 6
Known as Wolverine and for The Greatest Showman, what musical actor really lived up to that title, becoming the greatest showman the Oscars has ever seen host?
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AHugh Grant
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BHugh Laurie
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CHugh Jackman
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DHugh Hefner
Hugh Jackman
The Academy had had enough of comedians, so in 2009, they went another way. Hugh Jackman brought showmanship back to the Oscars, with his talent in singing and dancing – and of course, his undeniable charisma.
Question 7
This one-time host bombed, calling the performance his “single biggest professional embarrassment”. Name that Late Show host.
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AJack Benny
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BDavid Letterman
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CJerry Lewis
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DChris Rock
David Letterman
The Oscars were clearly not the environment for David Letterman. Hosting in 1995, he told many jokes about celebrities present at the show, and they all fell flat. <i>The Atlantic</i> called his set "the gold standard of Oscar bombing". Ouch, that's gotta hurt.
Question 8
This host of The Daily Show emceed the Oscars twice and did some gags with his friends, including Stephen Colbert.
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ASteve Martin
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BAlec Baldwin
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CJon Stewart
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DTrevor Noah
Jon Stewart
During Jon Stewart's popular run as <i>Daily Show</i> host, he was invited to host the Oscars for two non-consecutive years, in 2006 and 2008. Stewart's first gig was a bit bumpy, but the second time around, he nailed it.
Question 9
As the creator of Family Guy, this host was bound to be crass. Name that Ted director.
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ASeth MacFarlane
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BSeth Meyers
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CEllen DeGeneres
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DMatt Groening
Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane gave just about the very performance you'd expect from the creator of <i>Family Guy</i>, <i>American Dad</i>, and <i>Ted</i>. He left the class act at the door and began his set with how terrible he was going to be as a host...and by most accounts, he was right.
Question 10
In one of the oddest Oscar pairings, this host joined Anne Hathaway in bombing in 2011.
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AJames Franco
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BSeth Rogen
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CShia LaBeouf
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DNeil Patrick Harris
James Franco
Many critical reviews of the 2011 Academy Awards opine that Anne Hathaway was pretty much abandoned on stage by her co-host, James Franco. The pairing was unusual to begin with, and it became more apparent just how unusual when the co-hosts took to the floor, with Franco incredibly subdued, while Anne Hathaway was, well, Anne Hathaway.
Question 11
Beloved as Barney in How I Met Your Mother, this Oscar host cut his teeth on the Grammys and the Emmys. Name that "legen-wait for it-dary" funny man.
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AJohnny Carson
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BHugh Jackman
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CNeil Patrick Harris
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DJohn Mulaney
Neil Patrick Harris
Although Neil Patrick Harris shone brightly when hosting the Tonys and the Emmys, his Oscar gig received lackluster reviews. While the opening number won over the crowd, the remainder was a bit "clunky," but many critics blamed it more on the writing than on the host himself.
Question 12
Hosting or co-hosting 19 times, he was the most prolific host in Academy Awards history. Name that venerated comedian.
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ADavid Letterman
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BJohnny Carson
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CBob Hope
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DBilly Crystal
Bob Hope
Bob Hope was the captain who steered the Academy Awards' ship, with his first hosting gig in 1939. He hosted or co-hosted the awards ceremony fourteen times through 1977, making him the hostest with the mostest.
Question 13
This four-time Oscar host is, herself, an EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) – one of only sixteen people with that claim to fame.
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AAgnes Moorehead
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BAnne Hathaway
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CWhoopi Goldberg
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DShirley MacLaine
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg rode her wave of popularity in the '90s to the Academy Awards. Hosting in 1994, 1996, 1999, and then again in 2002, Goldberg put the pizzazz back into the Oscars with her costume changes and her regular need for censorship.
Question 14
This pair of hosts went together like peanut butter and mustard. What co-host (who holds the record for hosting SNL the most times) joined Steve Martin in 2010?
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AJohnny Carson
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BMartin Short
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CBob Hope
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DAlec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin
Steve Martin hosted the Oscars solo twice, and he was a critical darling. When paired with Alec Baldwin, however, reviewers could either take 'em or leave 'em.
Question 15
Which two-time Oscar host and SNL alum laid into Jude Law, and later in the show, was told off by Sean Penn?
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ASeth MacFarlane
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BKevin Hart
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CRichard Pryor
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DChris Rock
Chris Rock
The Golden Globes have been the more laidback version of the Academy Awards, with hosts like Ricky Gervais really taking care to cut into the very Hollywood celebrities being venerated. But before Ricky, there was Chris Rock, and he did it not at the Golden Globes, but at the stuffier Oscars. When hosting in 2005, Rock slagged off Jude Law in his monologue. Although some in the audience really didn't appreciate this gag (Sean Penn, in particular), Rock was welcomed back a decade later, hosting again in 2016.
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