Billy Crystal Oscar Host for 9th Time for 84th Academy Awards (VIDEO)
It has been announced that Billy Crystal will host the 84th Academy Awards.
After numerous stints as host of filmdom’s most prestigious night, the long time funny-man will once again don his tux to host the Feb. 26, 2012 telecast.
The film star and Saturday Night Live alum said on his twitter page, “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 will be Crystal’s ninth occasion as host of the glamour-fest. He made his last appearance as master of ceremonies of the event in 2004. Accordingly, only legendary comedian Bob Hope has hosted the program on more occasions, with a stunning 19 hosting duties.
In a statement issued by AMPAS, the 63-year-old-Crystal remarked, "Some of the best moments of my career have happened on the Oscar stage, I am thrilled to be back there."
AMPAS President Tom Sherak, said, "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."
Comedian Eddie Murphy had been chosen to host the Feb. 26, 2012 show, but, accordingly, decided against hosting the telecast Wednesday when on Tuesday his friend and producer Brett Ratner left the broadcast due to his reported use of a pejorative term for gay men during a screening of the director's action comedy "Tower Heist," which stars Murphy.