Billy Crystal has taken to Twitter to announce that he will be hosting the Academy Awards in 2012, with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirming the appointment in a very 21st Century manner, by retweeting Crystal's tweet.
Crystal
tweeted: "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 hosting the 84th Academy Awards will mark the ninth occasion the comedian has held the role, having previously MC'd the 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2004 ceremonies. Crystal is currently the second most used host, with Bob Hope having taken on the role an extraordinary 19 times.
The role of Oscars host, a poisoned challice that most stars see as providing no career benefit and lots of potential for disaster, is unexpectedly vacant
after Eddie Murphy quit from the role following
the departure of friend Brett Ratner as producer.
The appointment of Billy Crystal will also come as a let down to the more than 30,000 fans who have
come together on Facebook in the last 24 hours to support the Muppets as hosts of the Oscars.
By Giles Hardie