Here's Why the Oscars Announcer Sounds So Familiar

The 97th Academy Awards is in full swing, complete with stunning performances, history-making wins and, arguably, one of the best opening monologues to date. (Shoutout to Conan O'Brien.) However, there was one surprising detail that totally caught me off-guard, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

During the ceremony, as the announcer revealed the presenters and winners, I instantly recognized that deep voice. It sounded eerily similar to the deadpan tone of Ron Swanson (aka Nick Offerman) from Parks and Recreation, although I wasn't 100 percent sure. A few moments and a quick Google search later, however, I discovered that the voice was, indeed, Nick Offerman's.

Although I definitely did a double take at this news, it's not too surprising that the Academy selected Offerman for the job. He has previously done quite a bit of voice work, and among his most successful titles are Sing, Gravity Falls, The Great North and The Lego Movie.

Now, he can add "Oscars announcer" to his resume, and he's following in the footsteps of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan (yes, you read that correctly), who served as the very first announcer at the Academy's first-ever televised ceremony. (Fun fact: Reagan was chosen because of his previous experience as a broadcaster on sports radio.)