Shira Lazar to Host Oscars Digital Experience

Shira Lazar, founder and host of What’s Trending, is returning to host the Oscars digital experience for Oscar.com this year.

Last year Lazar teamed up with ABC and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to host the Oscars Interactive Experience. “This year we’ll be doing that plus much more with original content and livestreams leading up to the 84th Academy Awards,” Lazar told Tubefilter.

The show, Oscar Dailies, launches today with a livestream special around the nominations. Joining the discussion are film experts and social media stars including Leonard Maltin, YouTube star Michael Buckley, The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg, Entertainment Weekly

’s Dave Karger and G4/E!’s Chris Gore, as well as Mashable Entertainment Editor Christina Warren, who will be highlighting the Oscars social media buzz.

Each week after that, Lazar and company will be producing special shows bringing together previous Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor (and Actress), Best Director, and Best Picture winners to share their favorite movie moments and journey in the world of film.

“Our goal with Oscar.com is to make sure fans are having a really full, immersive experience leading up to, during and after the Oscars,” Karin Gilford, Senior Vice President of Digital Media at ABC.com, told Tubefilter. “Oscar Dailies will showcase insider perspectives that only the Academy and ABC can share, as well as unique and interesting insights from fans and influencers across the social media landscape. This first show is off to a great start with a diverse group of people who I know will have a lot of fun talking about the nominations.”

Oscar Dailies will be distributed via What’s Trending‘s social channels in addition to Oscar.com and official ABC network partners. The series will conclude with a big finale February 23 with a preview of the 84th Academy Awards show with exclusive access from the Oscars producers and The Academy.

In previous years the Oscars have taken efforts to enhance their digital cred with “viral” promotional spots, the Road To The Oscars series, and the pay-per-view Oscar All Access livestream.