Steve Martin, the legendary comedian and actor, recently opened up about his experiences hosting the Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, and made it clear that he has no intention of returning to the glitzy Hollywood stage for a fourth time. Despite being one of the most beloved hosts in Oscar history, Martin declined a recent invitation to helm the ceremony again, citing the immense workload and a changing perspective on life.
Martin, who has hosted the Oscars twice solo and once alongside Alec Baldwin, admitted that standing in front of Hollywood’s elite made him “nervous” when he did it alone. However, hosting with a partner was a much easier task. In a recent interview, Martin revealed that he was asked to host the Oscars again, this time with his close friend and co-star from the hit series “Only Murders in the Building,” Martin Short. Despite their undeniable chemistry and the potential for a memorable show, Martin turned down the offer.
“That represents so much work for us. And we love our summers,” Martin explained, highlighting the extensive preparation that goes into hosting the Oscars. “When I hosted before, I started working months ahead of time. And now I have a completely different life. I’m not as free. It’s a lot of work, and we’re working,” he added, emphasizing how his priorities have shifted in recent years.
In a candid moment, Martin also took a swipe at the Oscars for their lack of compensation. “They don’t pay, either,” the actor pointed out. “The Golden Globes pay, so they get Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. And Ricky Gervais. The Oscars should pay. When you consider the amount of work, it’s at least several months of mental churning.” For an A-list star like Martin, who has earned his stripes in Hollywood, the time and effort required to host such an event without proper compensation is simply not worth it.
Martin also revealed a joke he wrote for the Oscars that never made it to the stage, but perfectly encapsulates his feelings about the gig. “I’ll come out and say, ‘I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, Steve, how did you get to host the Oscars? It was easy. I just called my agent and I said, Get me something thankless,’” Martin recounted with his trademark wit.
It’s not just the Oscars that Martin has turned down. He also recently declined an invitation to appear on “Saturday Night Live,” citing a lack of enthusiasm for impersonations. “I wanted to say no and, by the way, he wanted me to say no,” Martin said, referring to SNL creator Lorne Michaels. “I said, ‘Lorne, I’m not an impressionist. You need someone who can really nail the guy.’ I was picked because I have gray hair and glasses,” he added, with a touch of humor.
The Oscars have become increasingly controversial in recent years, with last year’s host, Jimmy Kimmel, drawing sharp criticism from none other than former President Donald Trump. Trump, never one to mince words, took to Truth Social to lambast Kimmel’s performance, calling it “disjointed, boring, and very unfair.” He went on to suggest replacing Kimmel with another “washed up” ABC talent, adding that the Oscars have been “a really bad politically correct show tonight, and for years.”
As the Oscars struggle with declining ratings and growing disenchantment from both viewers and industry insiders, Martin’s decision to step away from the spotlight reflects a broader dissatisfaction with Hollywood’s increasingly out-of-touch elite. For many, the glitz and glamour of the Oscars have lost their luster, replaced by a sense of exhaustion with the endless political grandstanding and virtue signaling that now dominate the event. In turning down the Oscars, Steve Martin may be saying what many Americans have long felt: it’s time for a change.
