PHOTOS: A Day in the Life of Ellen DeGeneres 
 
 DeGeneres' announcement comes immediately after Cheryl Boone Isaacs was elected new president of the Academy on Tuesday. DeGeneres herself announced the news Friday morning on Twitter, writing, "It's official: I'm hosting the ! I'd like to thank , my wife Portia and, oh dear, there goes the orchestra." DeGeneres has experience hosting the Academy Awards: She previously served as emcee during the 2007 ceremony. "I am so excited to be hosting the Oscars for the second time," DeGeneres said in a press release announcing the big news. You know what they say -- the third time's the charm," DeGeneres said in a statement. Choosing DeGeneres, known for her kindler, gentler humor, signals that the Academy's next awards show will have a decidedly different tone than the 85th Academy Awards, hosted by Seth MacFarlane, who drew criticism for routines like his song about actresses' nudity on film. Check out our predictions for the winners of the 86th Academy Awards below, which will be announced on March 2nd, 2014 (and clearly updated regularly between then and now).
– Seth MacFarlane won't be back at the Oscars next year for an encore: Instead, Ellen DeGeneres is returning as host for a second time, reports the Huffington Post. DeGeneres herself confirmed via jokey tweet: "It's official: I'm hosting the #Oscars! I'd like to thank @TheAcademy, my wife Portia and, oh dear, there goes the orchestra." DeGeneres hosted previously in 2007 and earned an Emmy nod in the process, notes the Academy's news release via the Hollywood Reporter. The show airs on March 2. (IndieWire is already getting a jump on predictions.)