DeGeneres named Oscars host

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Ellen DeGeneres has been chosen as host for the 79th Academy Awards telecast, producer Laura Ziskin said Thursday in Beverly Hills, Calif.

It will be DeGeneres' first time as Oscars' host, as well as her first appearance on an Academy Awards telecast. Ziskin said DeGeneres "was born" to be the Oscars telecast host.

"There is no more challenging hosting job in show business," said Ziskin. "It requires someone who can keep the show alive and fresh and moving, as well as someone who is a flat-out great entertainer. Ellen completely fits the bill."

DeGeneres is host of the syndicated talk show "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," which this year won its third Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show and earned DeGeneres her second Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host.

DeGeneres has twice emceed the Emmy Awards telecast and was a co-host in 1994. She won a Peabody Award and a writing Emmy in 1997 for an episode of her half-hour comedy, "Ellen," in which her character came out as a lesbian.

The Academy Awards will be presented Feb., 25, 2007, in ceremonies at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, to be telecast live over ABC.