In one of the most shocking stories to come out of Hollywood in a long time, Eddie Murphy has quit as Oscars host after telecast producer Brett Ratner stepped down following a massive call for his resignation after uttering a homosexual slur and conducting a randy interview on The Howard Stern Show. Ratner, who directed Murphy in the new movie, Tower Heist, was the driving force behind asking Murphy to host the show and convincing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to hire the legendary funny man. Tower Heist and the hosting gig were seen as major comeback vehicles for the star after years of critically and commercially unsuccessful films.
I am completely, utterly blown away by this decision. Like I said last night, this was the biggest and best opportunity for an Eddie Murphy comeback, and I never thought he would pass on it, even if Ratner was forced out. Did Ratner ask Murphy for a show of solidarity? Did Murphy do this out of loyalty to his pal?
I admire loyalty, but Murphy should not be letting loyalty to anyone stand in the way of the biggest opportunity of his career, especially when Ratner deserved to be forced out of the producer gig.
With Eddie out, who will be the next host of the Oscars? The Academy will have to go all out and pick one of the biggest stars in the universe to overcome this very complicated turn of events. It has to be someone as big as Murphy, and someone considered to be as funny and talented.
Will it be Billy Crystal returning to the stage? Will Jerry Seinfeld get a large enough financial offer to take the risk? Will the Academy turn to a star who is not normally a host, like George Clooney?
Hollywood's biggest soap opera has begun.
