How Many Times Has ‘The View’ Star Whoopi Goldberg Hosted the Oscars?
Ever since Whoopi Goldberg replaced Rosie O’Donnel as the moderator on The View, the actress has been an emblem of the show — commanding presence and respect without succumbing to an authoritative approach. Yet, the actress has flexed her hosting muscles in other ways, most notably as host of the Academy Awards. So, how many times did Goldberg host the Oscars?
Whoopi Goldberg hosted the Oscars four times from 1992 to 2002, and each and every performance was as memorable as the last. She is one of the few to host the awards multiple times, as many others have been one-and-done acts, failing to entertain the crowd for the show that runs over three hours long.
Whoopi Goldberg hosted the Oscars for the first time in 1994
Whoopi Goldberg was flying high in 1994; Sister Act and Sister Act 2 premiered in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Goldberg had established a cinematic presence, and also boasted the quick wit and sense of humor needed to snag the hosting role. And, she nailed it. As the first solo female host, she rose to the occasion.
Goldberg’s 1994 opening monologue poked fun at Jack Nicholson and James Caan, noting that they were hired to replace the army of security guards usually present at the event. She also explained that Billy Crystal knew when to walk away, as Goldberg was left with Schindler’s List on her plate of movies to reference.
Goldberg hosted the Academy Awards again in 1996
The Academy brought Goldberg back two years later, in 1996, to host again. After cracking jokes that not only left the crowd pleased but also kept audiences at home tuned in, she found her way back to the stage to host.
This time, Goldberg poked fun at herself, calling herself, “the mighty afro deity.” She also explained that Oscar is 68, and “younger than Bob Dole.” She also joked that she hasn’t seen so many “poles mistreated” since World War II when referencing Showgirls.
Goldberg hosted the 1999 ceremony
Whoopi Goldberg returned to the Oscars once again in 1999, opening up with a slight political joke. She explained that the Oscars is the biggest party in Hollywood…right behind the democrats. She also calls Hollywood “the town that invented lying about sex,” before reminiscing a little about hosting in 1996.
Whoopi Goldberg hosted the Oscars for the last time in 2002
Goldberg returned to the Oscars in 2002. This time around, she was fresh off The Hollywood Sign, Call Me Claus, Celebrity Deathmatch, Monkeybone, and more. She entered in quite the showgirl outfit — descending from the ceiling in a tight gold get-up with a feathery gold tail, and a top hat.
Goldberg noted all the movie stars present, the great big party, and the Oscar winners before asking, “is this Liza’s wedding?” She went out with a bang but has yet to return as host. However, who knows, maybe Goldberg will grace fans once again as host of the Academy Awards.
