Oscar icon, Billy Crystal is replacing Eddie Murphy as 2012 Academy Awards host.
Billy Crystal, 63, just announced via Twitter that he will be taking the helm at Oscar’s ceremony, just 24 hours after after Eddie Murphy dropped out of hosting duties.
“Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions,” Billy Crystal tweeted yesterday.
“Looking forward to the show.”
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak said in a statement:
“I’m thrilled to welcome Billy back to the Oscar stage.
“He’s a comic legend and Oscar icon, and it feels good to have him back where he belongs.”
Oscar icon, Billy Crystal is replacing Eddie Murphy as 2012 Academy Awards host
Billy Crystal last hosted the show back in 2004 and received a standing ovation after appearing for a brief segment in 2011 ceremony which was hosted by Anne Hathaway and James Franco.
The news comes after Brett Ratner, who was due to produce 2012 awards, withdrew as the show’s producer, after apologizing for a gay slur he used during a screening of his latest film.
Brett Ratner’s friend and Tower Heist star Eddie Murphy then resigned from his role of host.
They were set to work together on the February 26 TV broadcast of the Oscars after working together on the action movie.
Billy Crystal, 63, just announced via Twitter that he will be taking the helm at Oscar's ceremony, just 24 hours after after Eddie Murphy dropped out of hosting duties
Renowned film producer Brian Glazer has been drafted in as a replacement for Brett Ratner to produce the awards ceremony.
Of Billy Crystal’s return, Brian Grazer said yesterday: “Like so many others, I’ve been eager to see Billy host again. It’s very gratifying that he agreed to do it with Don and me at the helm.”
Tom Sherak, the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, had told TheWrap on Wednesday that he was leaving the choice of Oscar host down to the producer.
“You hire the producers, they figure out what they want the show to be. Then they pick who they want to be hosts,” he said.
Tom Sherak also hinted that he believed Billy Crystal was still in the running and is not too old to present the show.
“No. Bob Hope did the Oscars in his sixties,” Tom Sherak said.
Eddie Murphy signs on to host 84th Academy Awards ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday, September 6.
In a press release on Tuesday, Eddie Murphy said:
“I am enormously honored to join the great list of past Academy Award hosts from Hope and Carson to Crystal, Martin and Goldberg, among others.”
Eddie Murphy will host 2012 ceremony of the Annual Academy Awards
Eddie Murphy, 50, was reported to be the Brett Ratner’s top choice to host the 84th Academy Awards show.
Brett Ratner, who is the “Rush Hour” director and recently directed Eddie Murphy in the upcoming movie “Tower Heist”, is producing the ceremony.
“Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever,” Brett Ratner said in a press release.
“With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances – especially on stage – I know he will bring excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show.”
This will be Eddie Murphy’s first hosting stint on the Oscars.
Eddie Murphy earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2006 for his role in “Dreamgirls.”
Previously, there were rumors that Billy Crystal, who hosted the awards show eight times between 1990 and 2004, was to be in the running for hosting duties before Eddie Murphy was officially tapped to host.
Eddie Murphy began his career at the age of 15 as a stand-up comedian. In 1980, at the age of 19, he joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live,” becoming the show’s youngest cast member to that point, and bringing to life many of the show’s most memorable characters. His 1983 album “Eddie Murphy: Comedian” won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording. It included portions of his groundbreaking HBO special “Eddie Murphy Delirious.” In 1987, “Eddie Murphy Raw” was theatrically released and went on to gross over $50 million. Murphy made his feature film debut in 1982 with the classic “48 Hrs.” and would go on to star in such box-office hits as “Beverly Hills Cop” and the “The Nutty Professor” and “Shrek” franchises. All told, movies in which he has performed have earned in excess of $7 billion worldwide during their theatrical releases.
The 84th edition of the Annual Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.
