chicot60
11-11-2011, 04:14 AM
By Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY
The revered former host has swooped in to aid the troubled awards program, announcing Thursday that he would undertake the duties Feb. 26 for the ninth time. He replaces Eddie Murphy, who dramatically stepped down 24 hours earlier.
"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," Crystal tweeted.
In a statement later, he took a slightly more serious tone: "Some of the best moments of my career have happened on the Oscar stage. I am thrilled to be back there."
Crystal's announcement showed superhero timing in the wake of a turbulent week, which started with Oscar producer Brett Ratner stepping down Monday following public outcry over his use of a derogatory term for gays and a raunchy Howard Stern interview. Murphy followed his creative partner off the show the next day.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences immediately set a new course, naming Brian Grazer as a replacement producer Wednesday night. He, along with veteran show producer Don Mischer, immediately responded to the public demand to place Crystal back on the Oscar stage. Crystal had started the ball rolling over the summer when he said he was "itching" to come back. He last served as host in 2004.
Academy president Tom Sherak heralded the return, calling Crystal "a comic legend and Oscar icon. It feels good to have him back where he belongs."
By adding Crystal, the academy looked to move past the controversy, as Mischer made clear in his statement: "With Billy, we're moving forward with one of the greatest hosts in Oscar history. His return to the Oscars is, in a sense, a celebration."
Tom O'Neil, award blogger for Goldderby.com, says: "Billy is not just making a dramatic, triumphant return to the Oscars, he's coming to the academy's rescue. They had to call in the real pro this time."
At 63, Crystal will be the oldest solo host since Bob Hope took the stage in 1978. (Hope holds the hosting record over Crystal with 19 ceremonies between 1940 and 1978.) His age could be seen as a detriment because the academy has been desperate to court younger viewers to correct a ratings slide. But selecting James Franco, 33, and Anne Hathaway, 28, for the 2011 show proved a critical dud and didn't help the ratings. Crystal will provide a sense of class befitting the program and, more important, stability in rough waters.
"This is not about pandering to a young audience. It's about being faithful to the franchise," O'Neil says. "We're in good hands now. It's going to be a great show."
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/story/2011-11-10/billy-crystal-oscars-host/51159456/1
The revered former host has swooped in to aid the troubled awards program, announcing Thursday that he would undertake the duties Feb. 26 for the ninth time. He replaces Eddie Murphy, who dramatically stepped down 24 hours earlier.
"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," Crystal tweeted.
In a statement later, he took a slightly more serious tone: "Some of the best moments of my career have happened on the Oscar stage. I am thrilled to be back there."
Crystal's announcement showed superhero timing in the wake of a turbulent week, which started with Oscar producer Brett Ratner stepping down Monday following public outcry over his use of a derogatory term for gays and a raunchy Howard Stern interview. Murphy followed his creative partner off the show the next day.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences immediately set a new course, naming Brian Grazer as a replacement producer Wednesday night. He, along with veteran show producer Don Mischer, immediately responded to the public demand to place Crystal back on the Oscar stage. Crystal had started the ball rolling over the summer when he said he was "itching" to come back. He last served as host in 2004.
Academy president Tom Sherak heralded the return, calling Crystal "a comic legend and Oscar icon. It feels good to have him back where he belongs."
By adding Crystal, the academy looked to move past the controversy, as Mischer made clear in his statement: "With Billy, we're moving forward with one of the greatest hosts in Oscar history. His return to the Oscars is, in a sense, a celebration."
Tom O'Neil, award blogger for Goldderby.com, says: "Billy is not just making a dramatic, triumphant return to the Oscars, he's coming to the academy's rescue. They had to call in the real pro this time."
At 63, Crystal will be the oldest solo host since Bob Hope took the stage in 1978. (Hope holds the hosting record over Crystal with 19 ceremonies between 1940 and 1978.) His age could be seen as a detriment because the academy has been desperate to court younger viewers to correct a ratings slide. But selecting James Franco, 33, and Anne Hathaway, 28, for the 2011 show proved a critical dud and didn't help the ratings. Crystal will provide a sense of class befitting the program and, more important, stability in rough waters.
"This is not about pandering to a young audience. It's about being faithful to the franchise," O'Neil says. "We're in good hands now. It's going to be a great show."
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/story/2011-11-10/billy-crystal-oscars-host/51159456/1