New Oscars Host Kevin Hart Hopes His Branding Mojo Can Stop the Show’s Ratings Spiral

As ABC and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences try to stop the Oscar’s steep ratings declines—the 18-49 audience, which had already hit an all-time low in 2017, fell another 25 percent during March’s telecast—they have tapped a new celebrity host who seems to have the Midas touch with brands: Kevin Hart.