Billy Crystal Returning as Oscar host

Earlier this year you may remember the heartfelt pleas from a sleep-deprived Empire Online team that Steve Martin be forcibly removed from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood and debarred from ever re-entering. Our actual words at the time were; 'Please God - let the Academy take pity on its viewers, and on us, and put Steve Martin out to pasture.' Well it seems that the venerable Academy has taken our suggestions on board with the news today that Billy Crystal is in negotiations to take on the role of Oscar host for the eighth time. According to Variety, Oscar show producer Joe Roth is currently trying to persuade Crystal to emcee the 76th Academy Awards. Back in June CBS News asked Crystal whether he'd take on emcee duties again. 'At some point I