While many modern stars find hosting the Oscars to be a thankless task, comedian Bob Hope turned it into a career hallmark. Hope holds the record for hosting or co-hosting the Academy Awards 19 times between 1940 and 1978. Known for his quick wit and self-deprecating jokes about never winning a competitive Oscar himself, he became the face of the ceremony for decades. The Academy eventually gave him five honorary and special awards to make up for his 'empty' mantelpiece. Behind Hope, Billy Crystal holds the second-place record with 9 turns as host. Hope's long tenure established the standard format for the show: a monologue, celebrity ribbing, and a balance of reverence for film with lighthearted comedy.