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Eddie Murphy quits as Oscars host

Updated: Eddie Murphy has quit as host of the 2012 Academy Awards -but Billy Crystal is back!

Eddie Murphy has quit as host of the 2012 Academy Awards, following the resignation of producer Brett Ratner.

Ratner quit after making an anti-gay slur. He had hand-picked Murphy for the plum job.

In a statement Murphy said, “First and foremost I want to say I completely understand and support each party’s decision with regard to a change of producers for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job.”

Academy president Tom Sherak added, “I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well.”

Ratner was roundly criticised for saying “rehearsal is for f-gs” and going into graphic detail about his sex life on The Howard Stern Show.

Producer Brian Grazer has agreed to take on the job of producing the Academy Awards ceremony, to be held February 26th. He will will share producing duties with industry veteran Don Mischer.

“Don is a legend, and I am excited to work with him,” he said.

Time for Neil Patrick Harris to step in as host?

UPDATED: Oscars favourite Billy Crystal has tweeted: “Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions. Looking forward to the show.”

The Academy has confirmed the news. This is his first hosting since 2004.

Cue the music!

Source: LA Times

10 Responses

  1. The Oscars are about class and elegance…or should be, a little old Hollywood mixed with the new. You need someone a little special to work that spectrum, many could, but Billy does it best!

    When they get that right, the evening is usually pretty darn good! As much as I enjoy Murphy, he would never have been able to convey this. As soon as I heard Ratner was gone, I knew Murphy would follow and predicted to friends they will call in Billy and about bloody time!

    True cinema buffs understand the importance of bringing the glamour of the past with the current – Billy does this perfectly…I am thrilled and cannot wait!

  2. @Steve – I would have loved to have seen Ricky host the Oscars but it was the Golden Globes that he hosted. I get confused, too, with all these different vested interests holding their own award ceremonies

  3. I’m so sick of seeing all these old people hosting the Oscars.

    Maybe it’s just me but i would like to see it new and actually entertaining. Now, i understand the only reason they’re using their safe hosts is because they don’t want another Ricky Gervais moment happening.

    But that’s silly. Ricky Gervais was the greatest thing to happen to the Oscars in a long time!

    They need to take chances and have new. entertaining and exciting hosts. I’m bored with all these old guys they keep getting to do them.

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