Ratner resigns as Oscar telecast coproducer

Brett Ratner has stepped down as one of the producer's for next February's Academy Award ceremony on the heels of his derogatory "rehearsals are for fags" remark three days ago, embellished by his equally unsavoury comments on his sexual exploits with the likes of Olivia Munn and Lindsay Lohan. Many have been demanding his resignation since, and it looks like they got their wish.

This was probably the only acceptable course of action for Ratner and the Academy, so good on them for taking it with swift decisiveness, but it's a still an awful shame. We can only hope that the impending telecast won't be marred by the infamy of Ratner's foolish slur. The sooner this unfortunate situation can be forgotten, the better.

As to where AMPAS goes from here is anybody's guess. Will someone be brought on to replace the erstwhile producer? If not, it kinda leaves coproducer Don Mischer (half responsible for last February's identity crisis of a show) in an awkward position. If so, it might be just as awkward bringing someone new into the mix part way through the process. I don't know.

Producers for 84th telecast

So Don Mischer and Brett Ratner have been named producers for next year's Oscarcast, as you can see from the Academy's recent press release.

Not particularly thrilled about the announcement, but I'm gonna try not to join the chorus line of complaints kicking their way across the internet. I've already done my griping about the jumbled yawn of a show that Mischer (and co-producer in crime, Bruce Cohen) threw together this past February. Just gotta keep it in the past. Next year is another show. As for Ratner, I'm not all that familiar with his work outside of the first two Rush Hour phone-ins, so I'll try to keep an open mind about him. Who knows? Maybe he'll try to at least make it fun... maybe?