The Oscars won't have a host, but they're planning an 'exciting opener'

LOS ANGELES — With weeks to go until the 91st Academy Awards, the show will go on without a host.

A publicist with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed the news Monday night.

Although there will be no host, People reported ABC President Karey Burke teased an opening number at the Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour on Tuesday.

“From what I’ve heard, we have a very exciting opener planned,” Burke said. “We are not going to go straight into people thanking their agents.”

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“After that, it was pretty clear that we were going to stay the course,” she explained. “There was an idea that they were going to have the presenters just host the Oscars. We all got on board with that.”

Kevin Hart was tapped to host the show in December, but stepped down after homophobic tweets of his resurfaced soon after he was announced for the gig.

How many Oscars will “Black Panther” win? How well will the movies filmed in Atlanta fare? What will the show be like without a host? WATCH the 2019 Academy Awards Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. LIVE on Channel 2!

Burke said the the show will be three hours long.

"The main goal, which I'm told the Academy promised last year, is to keep the show to three hours," Burke said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "The producers decided to wisely not have a host and have the presenters and the movies be the stars. That's the best way to keep the show to brisk three hours."

Cox Media Group