“The Daily Show’s” Jon Stewart has been secured to host the 78th Academy Awards telecast, his first stint as an Oscar headliner. The 78th Oscar telecast will air Sunday, March 5, 2006, on ABC.

“As a performer, I’m truly honored to be hosting the show,” Mr. Stewart said in a statement. “Although, as an avid watcher of the Oscars, I can’t help but be a little disappointed with the choice. It appears to be another sad attempt to smoke out Billy Crystal.”

The host of Comedy Central’s Emmy- and Peabody- winning “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” Mr. Stewart, along with the writers of “The Daily Show,” authored “America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction” in 2004. The book was recently awarded the Thurber Prize for American Humor.

Before he took over “The Daily Show” in 1999 Mr. Stewart’s television credits included a one-hour HBO comedy special, “Jon Stewart: Unleavened,” and a recurring role as himself on HBO’s “The Larry Sanders Show.” He also hosted “The Jon Stewart Show” on MTV, which went on to be nationally syndicated.

The 78th Annual Academy Awards Presentation will be broadcast live from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood at 8 p.m. (ET).