LOS ANGELES — Eddie Murphy is dropping out as the host of the Oscars telecast, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences said Wednesday, just one day after the show’s producer, Brett Ratner, stepped aside amid a storm of criticism over his use of an anti-gay slur.

The hasty departures represented an embarrassing collapse of the Academy’s plans with less than four months before the ceremony, and left it scrambling to fill key roles on a show that is one of the most elaborately staged on television.

Mr. Ratner, who was named the Oscar co-producer on Aug. 4, resigned on Tuesday morning because of the furor provoked by his public use over the weekend of an anti-gay slur, and a subsequent, salacious discussion of his own sexual habits on Howard Stern’s radio program.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation strongly objected to the derisive remark about gays, and a flood of objections by academy members and media commentators quickly made clear that the Academy’s Feb. 26 Oscar show on ABC, if Mr. Ratner remained in charge, was going to be as much about Mr. Ratner as the movies.

Mr. Murphy on Wednesday followed Mr. Ratner — his friend, and the director of his latest film “Tower Heist” — out the door.

“I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well,” Tom Sherak, the president of the academy, said in a statement.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/movies/eddie-murphy-drops-out-of-oscars-telecast.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print

"Behind every successful man there is a strong... " We all know this adage... In the movie and TV business, some stars have strong producers or agents with whom they have very close relationship. As mentioned before on this site, we go through life whichever way but the key to happiness resides mostly in our relationships.

When our relationships are under attack from external forces for whatever reason, true or false, it is often in our interest to defend these relationships otherwise we loose everything on all counts.

Presently, I am fighting a totally 100 per cent unfair damaging stupidity from other people who have attacked my main relationship. Should I let it go like water over a duck's back? Hum... But the attack is more pot-shot in the belly. Far more damaging than a ruffle of feathers... Doctors get involved... As far as I am concerned it's war...

One can roll over gently like Eddie Murphy... or use all the ammunitions of the law of the words, while keeping some syntax in reserve to hit at will later...

I am not a vindictive person despite all the rubbish I throw at politicians and other people whose face appear in the media for the wrong reasons... Usually, I hope and I try hard, I have very good grounds to act like a grumpy old codger.

This matter is totally unrelated to my antics on this site... A bit like Assange being accused of sexual molestation for having revealed US's little dirty secrets...

I have no doubt this issue will be resolved soon in our favour, but why oh why do some people go to extreme length to be stupid and ignorantly damaging when warned several times to stop... and then continue? Malice, Resentment? Jealousy? You can expect this from little brats or dumb thugs. But coming from so-called "intelligent" people? One can cope if their unfair beef stays private — it's water on the duck's back. But when things go public, it's pot-shot to the belly... War of words it is.

Comedian and actor Billy Crystal has announced he will host next year's Academy Awards, ending days of turmoil over producing and hosting duties for Hollywood's night of nights.

Crystal announced on Twitter he would be hosting the Oscars for the ninth time, stepping in to fill the role vacated yesterday by Eddie Murphy.

"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," Crystal tweeted.

"Some of the best moments of my career have happened on the Oscar stage. I am thrilled to be back there," said Crystal, quoted by the Academy.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-11/billy-crystal-set-to-host-oscars/3659908?WT.svl=news3