Star Life Talk and Gossip

Comedian Billy Crystal, who has hosted the Academy Awards eight times, will return next year to replace Eddie Murphy, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Thursday.

Hollyood director Brett Ratner resigned Tuesday from his position as the producer of this year’s Oscars following his use of a gay slur during a publicity interview for his latest film Tower Heist.

Actor Eddie Murphy stepped down on Wednesday as host of the 84th Academy Awards telecast, a development which comes a day after show producer Brett Ratner exited due to use of gay slur.

Comedian Eddie Murphy is on an Oscar producer’s shortlist to host the Academy Awards in February, showbusiness website Deadline reported.

Here at Celebtrity Death Watch…er, I mean, Star Life Talk…we feel deeply the tragedies of untimely deaths like those of Natasha Richardson and Michael Jackson.  But we can’t help but grieve for the old guys, too, the ones whose passing is the end of an era.  Another one of those passed on today.  Karl Malden, [...]