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Reclusive Eddie Murphy agrees to host Oscars
Source: Agencies |
September 8, 2011, Thursday
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IN the tradition of Bob Hope and Johnny Carson, and later Billy Crystal, Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg, the Oscar awards are going back to their comedic roots with Eddie Murphy as host.
The actor and comedian will host the 84th annual Academy Awards, according to producers Brett Ratner and Don Mischer - and even they were surprised the reclusive star agreed to make the appearance.
The last comic to host the show alone was Jon Stewart in 2008. A singing, dancing Hugh Jackman took over in 2009, and in recent years pairs of actors have been at the helm. This will be Murphy's first time hosting the awards. He said he is "enormously honored."
As movie director Ratner and Murphy worked on their latest film, "Tower Heist," Ratner casually mentioned the notion of hosting the awards.
He recalled: "Eddie said, 'Wow, that would be a brilliant idea for you and me to do the Oscars together'."
"Everybody wants Eddie Murphy. He is a comedic genius. He is a brilliant impersonator. He is just the kind of guy who would make any television show wonderful. So many times through the years I have tried to get Eddie to agree to be on a show, and generally he keeps to himself and has not been interested."
Murphy made a rare TV appearance in April in the inaugural Comedy Awards, which Mischer produced, when the 50-year-old entertainer accepted the Comedy Icon award.
By contrast, when Murphy was nominated for an Oscar for 2006's "Dreamgirls," he conducted few interviews and reportedly left the ceremony as soon as his category was announced. He did not win.
Ratner called Murphy "one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever" and cited him as an inspiration for his filmmaking career.
The actor and comedian will host the 84th annual Academy Awards, according to producers Brett Ratner and Don Mischer - and even they were surprised the reclusive star agreed to make the appearance.
The last comic to host the show alone was Jon Stewart in 2008. A singing, dancing Hugh Jackman took over in 2009, and in recent years pairs of actors have been at the helm. This will be Murphy's first time hosting the awards. He said he is "enormously honored."
As movie director Ratner and Murphy worked on their latest film, "Tower Heist," Ratner casually mentioned the notion of hosting the awards.
He recalled: "Eddie said, 'Wow, that would be a brilliant idea for you and me to do the Oscars together'."
"Everybody wants Eddie Murphy. He is a comedic genius. He is a brilliant impersonator. He is just the kind of guy who would make any television show wonderful. So many times through the years I have tried to get Eddie to agree to be on a show, and generally he keeps to himself and has not been interested."
Murphy made a rare TV appearance in April in the inaugural Comedy Awards, which Mischer produced, when the 50-year-old entertainer accepted the Comedy Icon award.
By contrast, when Murphy was nominated for an Oscar for 2006's "Dreamgirls," he conducted few interviews and reportedly left the ceremony as soon as his category was announced. He did not win.
Ratner called Murphy "one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever" and cited him as an inspiration for his filmmaking career.
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