Things are moving on apace in Oscarland, as hot on the heels of the news that Brett Ratner has been replaced as co-producer with Brian Grazer comes word that Billy Crystal was asked to step in for departing host Eddie Murphy and immediately said yes.
But instead of waiting for the usual dry press release, it was Crystal who got in first to break the news over Twitter, with a gag (as you might expect): “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.” Who says he's not hip to what the kids like today, with their iFads and their digital down-lows?
While this will likely come as disappointing news to those who were hoping the Muppets might get the gig, and won’t do anything to assuage concerns that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are playing it safe by hiring an experienced old hand, he is at least a proven entertainer who has always put on a good show.
So now with Grazer, co-producer Don Mischer and Crystal all signed on, the Academy must be hoping that the negative headlines will finally go away. Cue Billy launching a racist diatribe and Grazer suspected of using babies’ blood as fuel for his car…
The Oscar show hits the airwaves on February 26, 2012.