Host

Jon Stewart hosting the 80th Academy Awards

Jon Stewart hosted the 80th Academy Awards® telecast, marking his second stint as Oscar host.

Stewart has been host and executive producer of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” winner of four consecutive Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series, since 1999. The show has also been bestowed with two Peabody Awards. In 2004 Stewart and the writers of “The Daily Show” also authored America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction, which was awarded the Thurber Prize for American Humor and was a staple on The New York Times best seller list for 46 consecutive weeks.

“I’m thrilled to be asked to host the Academy Awards for the second time because, as they say, the third time’s a charm,” said Stewart.

Producer

Gil Cates

Gilbert Cates helmed the 80th Academy Awards® presentation on Sunday, February 24, 2008. This is Cates’ 14th assignment as Oscar telecast producer – more than any other individual.

Previous Oscar telecasts produced by Cates have garnered 99 Emmy® nominations and 25 Emmy Awards. He won an Emmy in 1991 for producing the 63rd Annual Academy Awards telecast. Most recently, Cates produced the 78th Academy Awards, which aired in 2006.

“I love the Oscars and it’s a great treat to be asked back for the 80th presentation,” said Cates. “I can’t wait to work with Sid, Bruce Davis and the entire Oscar team.”

Director

Louis J. Horvitz

Louis J. Horvitz returned to helm the 80th Academy Awards telecast.

This is Horvitz’s 12th time directing the Academy Awards show. He has received a total of eight Emmy® nominations and four Emmy Awards for his Oscar® telecast work.

Horvitz has directed 12 “Primetime Emmy Awards” and recently completed his 16th stint directing both “The Kennedy Center Honors” and “The American Film Institute Life Achievement Award.” This year, he also completed his 12th year as executive producer-director of “An Evening of Stars.”

In a career that has spanned over three decades, Horvitz has helmed numerous other high-profile programs, including the “Daytime Emmy Awards,” “American Music Awards,” “Academy of Country Music Awards,” “Fashion Rocks,” “MTV Video Music Awards,” “VH1 Hip Hop Honors,” VH1 “Divas,” “VH1 Concert for New York City” benefiting survivors of 9/11, “U2 Halftime at the Superbowl XXXVI,” “Paul Simon’s Concert in Central Park,” the Rolling Stones’ “Steel Wheels Tour,” “Live Aid,” and the ‘80s dance phenomenon “Solid Gold.”