JON STEWART TO HOST 80TH OSCAR� TELECAST, AIRING FEBRUARY 24, 2008 ON ABC

Jon Stewart has been named to host the 80th Academy Awards� telecast, producer Gil Cates announced today. This will mark Stewart's second stint as Oscar host.

"Jon was a terrific host for the 78th Awards," said Cates. "He is smart, quick, funny, loves movies and is a great guy. What else could one ask for?"

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 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 bestseller 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.

Stewart has appeared in more than a dozen motion pictures. His television credits include a one-hour HBO comedy special, "Jon Stewart: Unleavened," a recurring role as himself on HBO's series-within-a-series, "The Larry Sanders Show," as well as an upcoming appearance on "The Simpsons." In 2001 and 2002 Stewart hosted the Grammy Awards.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2007 will be presented on Sunday, February 24, 2008, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center�, and televised live by the ABC Television Network.