Eddie Murphy is considered by many (including Howard Stern) to be one of the funniest men [still!] on the planet. Apparently, this is solely based on his choices in the 1980s, including his stint on
SNL, his million-dollar laff and his hit single, "
Party All the Time." But really, has anyone tried to sit through
Eddie Murphy Raw lately? I cannot imagine that it holds up, and
New York Magazine's wonderful
Vulture confirms my suspicions. Aside from his "successful" role as (the voice of) Donkey in the
Shrek movies, he hasn't made one single successful or respectable movie in exactly 64 years. This fall, Murphy costars in
Tower Heist (I featured the "totally awesome!" trailer for it
a few weeks ago), which is directed by Brett "Where My Bitches At?" Ratner, who also, coincidentally, is producing the 84th annual Academy Awards ceremony on Feb. 26, 2012. Ergo, Mr. Murphy will be hosting next year's Oscars. While I aim to make PLENTY of
Pluto Nash jokes on the day of the event (follow our
Twitter account as we live-tweet the telecast!), I'm actually (dare-I-say) ... excited about this choice? Not that it EVER matters who actually hosts this fucking incestuous lovefest, and a goddamn
Heinz Automato would be better than the desperate need of Anne Hathaway and the stoned/severed limb of James Franco. But still! A once-funny standup who's NOT Billy Crystal! That might be good! Or it might be awkward! Who knows?! Of course, Bruce Vilanch will have to clean/punch up his
rant on homosexuals (you have to play to your audience, obvi), but the show could contain some genuinely funny moments. Then again, we may all be dead before it airs. #2012
