Eddie Murphy Quits As Oscar Host

Here's what will hopefully be the last strain of the Oscar fallout from Brett Ratner's comments over the past week: Eddie Murphy has quit as host of the 84th Academy Awards. Brett Ratner called Murphy his first and only choice to host, and there was something appealing about the idea of blatant showman Ratner working with Murphy for the Oscars. I think some of us had images of Murphy emerging from a comedy cocoon that enshrouded him around the time of Beverly Hills Cop II. When Ratner quit as Oscar producer yesterday evening, we didn't know if Murphy would go with him.

Evidently Murphy didn't want to do the show without Ratner, so he's out. A statement from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak is below.

Beverly Hills, CA – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak announced that Eddie Murphy has withdrawn as host of the 84th Academy Awards. "I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well," said Sherak.

Commented Murphy, "First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party's decision with regard to a change of producers for this year's Academy Awards ceremony. I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I'm sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job."Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar® presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.