After Eddie Murphy exited his hosting duties for the 84th Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made quick work of finding a replacement, and they went with a familiar face. (This will be Crystal’s ninth time hosting the awards show – not including the 2006 show he opened.) The news spread quickly following the actor’s tweet, “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.” This Oscars ceremony has had a few behind-the-scenes tweaks over the past week, starting with former co-producer Brett Ratner’s resignation. The “Tower Heist” director used a gay slur during a screening last weekend, and critics quickly called for Ratner to be stripped of his Academy Awards production duties. Ratner apologised for his comment, and on Tuesday resigned from the job. Eddie Murphy quit next, saying he understood the perspectives of all parties involved, and wished the new producer and host the best. So now we have veteran filmmaker Brian Grazer in the co-producer seat along with Don Mischer, and Billy Crystal as host. The 84th Academy Awards will air on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
