BREAKING NEWS - Billy Crystal Returning As Oscars Host!

Posted on Thu Nov 10th, 2011 2:20pm PDT By X17 Staff

It's been a whirlwind two days for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences!

First, after getting backlash from using a gay slur in a weekend Q & A session, producer Brett Ratner quit the show. On Wednesday, pal Eddie Murphy (who Ratner had brought on) resigned from his hosting position.

But, perhaps a saving grace for the Academy -- favorite host Billy Crystal is coming back!

Crystal and the Academy announced the news Thursday afternoon. This will be his 9th time hosting, and his first time hosting since 2004. He made a brief appearance at the Feb. 2011 show, and after that said publicly that he'd be happy to host again.

Ratner's friend, famed producer Brian Grazer, replaced him as producer on Wednesday night. Reportedly, Crystal was the first person Grazer asked, and Crystal said yes.

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."

His Tweet is a bit of an allusion to the reports that the Academy has been trying to inject young life back into the Oscars (they attempted this by bringing James Franco and Anne Hathaway on as hosts in 2011.)

Many in the entertainment industry are surprised by how quickly the Academy rebounded after the loss of Ratner and Murphy; the quick replacements, the Academy surely hopes, will play down the bad publicity.

After the slur, the Academy did not force Ratner to resign -- the producer/director made the choice himself.