It is an annual tradition (infrequently violated) that the prior year’s winners in Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress are asked to return to the show to present the opposite gender’s category the following year. While the winners have sometimes been unavailable (or deceased), the tradition has held firm for along time. We have all four of last year’s acting winners returning. There’s another tradition that’s infrequently observed and that’s inviting the prior year’s Best Director winner to present the new winner with an Oscar, but that tradition has been largely ignored in years where the winner was less than well known. So, whether or not Michel Hazanavicius will return this year or not is unknown, but I’m leaning towards not.

Oscar® Winners Meryl Streep, Jean Dujardin, Octavia Spencer And Christopher Plummer Return To Oscars® Stage

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Last year’s Academy Award® winners Meryl Streep, Jean Dujardin, Octavia Spencer and Christopher Plummer will return to present on this year’s telecast, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today.

“We are honored to have Meryl, Octavia, Christopher and Jean, last year’s Oscar winners in each of the acting categories, return to the Oscar stage,” said Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

Streep, who is the most nominated actor with 17 nominations, has won three Academy Awards®, including last year’s lead actress award for her performance in “The Iron Lady.” Dujardin won the award for his lead performance in the Best Picture winner “The Artist,” it was his first nomination. Spencer, also a first time nominee, took home the Oscar for her supporting role in Best Picture nominee “The Help.” Plummer, who has twice been nominated, won the award for his supporting role in “Beginners.”

Oscars for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24, at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and will be hosted by Seth MacFarlane live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.