AMPAS wasted little time in finding replacements for producer Brett Ratner and host Eddie Murphy in the wakeof their sudden exodus from next February's Oscar telecast. Brian Grazer stepped in yesterday in place of Ratner, and today it has been confirmed that Billy Crystal, the best Oscar host I've ever had the pleasure of seeing MC the show, is swooping into the gap left by Murphy. It's a role Crystal knows well. He has an easy charm with his audience that can only come from years of doing the gig.
Personally, I'm delighted. I've been waiting patiently since 2004 (the last time Crystal hosted) for his return to the stage. His surprise appearance at last year's show only whetted my appetite further, but now it seems my wait is over. There were those lobbying online for an Oscar ceremony hosted by the Muppets, for which I would have been 100% on board, but a seasoned pro as classy and witty as Crystal is a more-than-adequate alternative.
Showing posts with label Ratner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ratner. Show all posts
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The dominos start falling: Murphy out as Oscar host
And the bad news keeps on coming. Now Eddie Murphy (who I thought was a fairly exciting untapped hosting possibility) has also jumped ship in the wake of Brett Ratner's resignation. This is not doing any favours to the production team, who have enough scandal contaminating the show's image as it is.
Who will be foolhardy enough to step in as host now?
Who will be foolhardy enough to step in as host now?
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.
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.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
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?
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?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)