TORONTO

Mayor Rob Ford has gone Hollywood.

And no doubt he’ll be hobnobbing Sunday with celebrities on the red carpet at the Academy Awards.

“I am going to the Oscars. It’s going to be fun,” Ford told the Toronto Sun as he boarded a plane Saturday heading for Los Angeles.

“I am really looking forward to it,” he added.

The mayor could be the guest of Jimmy Kimmel at the Oscars on Sunday night but details were still being worked out.

But Ford has been asked to appear on the late-night host’s show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Monday night.

And, in fact, the late-night host showed up at the airport to greet Ford and his entourage.

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“Landed safe and sound in L.A.,” was announced via the mayor’s official Twitter account, @TOMayorFord.

Accompanying the tweet was a picture of Kimmel in a porter’s cap and Rob Ford inside LAX. Between the two men is a baggage cart with “FORD” in big black letters and “Welcome to Los Angeles” below.

Kimmel has been trying for months to convince the mayor to come on the show, which airs at 11:35 p.m. in Toronto.

So have all the other late-night shows which have made light of the mayor’s predicament.

Ford said he is a fan of all the shows but especially likes Kimmel.

With him on the flight were staffers Dan Jacobs, Jerry Agyemang and Amin Massoudi as well his brothers Doug and Randy.

The controversial mayor, who’s been at the centre of a crack-smoking scandal since the summer, said he had no problem getting through United States customs.

“Everybody has been friendly,” Ford said.

The mayor said he is looking forward to promoting Toronto on the world stage and was swamped at the airport and on the airplane for photographs.

“It’s going to be a good trip,” he said.