LOS ANGELES, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Oscar host Seth MacFarlane and actress Emma Stone will announce the nominations for the 85th Academy Awards early Thursday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) said here on Monday.
MacFarlane will partner with Stone, the "The Amazing Spider-Man " star, to read a list of Oscar hopefuls at a 5:38 a.m. PT news conference at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, according to an AMPAS statement.
The actor, best known as the creator of the sitcom "Family Guy" and the director of the comedy film "Ted," was named in October to host the awards ceremony for the 85th Oscars scheduled for Feb. 24 at the Dolby Theater at Hollywood & Highland Center. He is the first Oscar host to unveil the list of contenders since Charlton Heston did the job in 1972.
An accomplished live performer, voice actor and creator, the 39- year-old MacFarlane made his feature directorial debut last summer with box office success "Ted." He is also the helmer of television series "Family Guy," and the co-creator of "American Dad!" and " The Cleveland Show."