Billy Crystal Will Host Academy Awards!

Billy Crystal

Producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced late today that Billy Crystal will serve as host for the 84th Academy Awards. "I'm thrilled to welcome Billy back to the Oscar stage," said President Tom Sherak of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "He's a comic legend and Oscar icon, and it feels good to have him back where he belongs."

I, and some of my associates, family and friends were lobbying for Crystal, and we have experienced true wish fulfillment. Crystal is exactly the shot-in-the-arm the Oscar telecast needs, in my humble opinion.

This will mark Crystal's ninth time as host. Only Bob Hope hosted more Academy Awards presentations, with 19 ceremonies between 1940 and 1978. Crystal last hosted the Academy Awards in 2004. He has been sorely missed.

The big question now is, will he enter riding a horse? Then, everyone can truly say that Crystal road to the rescue of the Academy Awards. I know the Muppet's fans are disappointed in the choice of Crystal, but I will not be surprised if they make a special appearance. Now that this is settled, let the official Awards' Season begin!

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Not Thrilled With Oscar Hosts Picks

Last week, the producers of the 83rd Academy Awards®, Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer, announced that actors James Franco and Anne Hathaway will serve as co-host of the Oscar® telecast in February. The news release admitted that "Both have previously appeared on the telecast but not in hosting capacities."

I searched diligently and could find no one TV show, or anything else, either have hosted, but according to the producers, "James Franco and Anne Hathaway personify the next generation of Hollywood icons— fresh, exciting and multi-talented. We hope to create an Oscar broadcast that will both showcase their incredible talents and entertain the world on Feb. 27."

Oh, joy. Much to look forward to. I have seen two attractive young people giving good performances on the screen, and both have exhibited reasonably good comic timing here and there, Hathaway more so than Franco.

On the screen, they are both candy for the eyes, and are usually enjoyable to watch, but they have no history with the Academy. I wager they know little about the Academy Awards prior to 2000. However, I am sure they will do a credible job of hitting their marks and mouthing their lines.

The only expression that describes what I am thinking about the broadcast this year is, "boring."  I'm sorry, but it is implausible to put two inexperienced young actors on stage and expect them to enhance the Oscar broadcast like Bob Hope, Johnny Caron, Billy Chrystal and so many other seasoned experienced hosts have done. Sometimes, experience and knowledge trump what is "hot" at the moment.

Of course, I wish them both success in their endeavors in their hosting duties.

MARTIN AND BALDWIN TO HOST OSCAR® SHOW

Actors Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will serve as co-hosts of the 82nd Academy Awards®, Oscar® telecast producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman announced yesterday.

Martin hosted the 73rd and 75th Academy Awards shows, earning an Emmy nomination for the first stint. He has also served as a presenter on the show several times, most recently at the ceremony in February when he appeared with Tina Fey. He is currently touring with the bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers in support of his latest album “The Crow: New Songs for the Five String Banjo.” In 1977 and 1978 Martin won Grammys for Best Comedy Recording. He earned a third Grammy in 2001 in the Best Country Instrumental Performance category. In 2007 Martin earned a Kennedy Center Honor.

Baldwin was nominated for an Academy Award in 2003 for his supporting role in “The Cooler.” That year also marked his most recent appearance as a presenter on the show. Baldwin currently stars as Jack Donaghy on the comedy “30 Rock,” a role for which he has won two Emmys (in 2008 and 2009). Baldwin earned a Tony nomination in 1992 for his performance in “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

There will be no honorary awards given at televised gala on 7 March. They have been moved to a new event, the Governors Ball, which will be held in the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® 14 November. The event is by invitation only, and the event will not be televised. However, look for a quick filmed nod to the recipients on the Oscar broadcast.

The Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award will be presented to John Calley for a consistently high quality of motion picture production. Actress Lauren Bacall will receive an Honorary Award in recognition of her central place in the Golden Age of motion pictures. Other Honorary Awards will go to filmmaker Roger Corman for his rich engendering of films, and Gordon Willis for unsurpassed mastery of light, shadow, color and motion.