Who we want to host the 2012 Oscars

In just a few days the Oscars have made a bombastic return to the world of movie news. The 2012 ceremony was to be produced by director Brett Ratner and hosted by his ‘Tower Heist’ star Eddie Murphy but both have dropped out. Ratner because of his poor choice of words, and Murphy presumably out of loyalty to his friend. Hollywood producer Brian Grazer has already stepped into the shoes of Ratner but who will be the host?

Let’s have a look at who could replace Murphy...

Ricky Gervais
The one we all want to take the job. Ricky was a revelation at 2010's Golden Globes, being controversial and pointing the large comedic finger of fun squarely at the A-listers in attendance. Gervais flirted with "the line" and the media naturally assumed he had crossed it and made enemies out of everyone in the room when in reality the attendees shrugged it off because a) because he's a comedian, it's what he does, and b) they have far too much money to care. Bring Gervais back we say and try to censor him at your peril!

The Muppets
At the opposite end of the spectrum are the wholly inoffensive but no less funny Muppets who, with a new film out, are set to be the darlings of Hollywood again. Why do it? Because it's the Muppets, who are always hilarious and to see them host the biggest awards show on Earth would be as entertaining as it would be surreal.

[See also: Eddie Murphy and Brett Ratner quit the Oscars]

Because everybody loves them the A-list would be queuing up to get involved, the potential for backstage skits with any number of stars and any number of Muppets is limitless. Just imagine Waldorf and Statler sat with Jack Nicholson in a box next to the stage commenting on the night's events. Comic gold. With an online campaign to get them to host in full swing and with thousands backing it, we pray that they get the part.

Neil Patrick Harris
Not all hosts need that deadpan humour, sometimes they can just be plain awesome. Neil Patrick Harris doesn’t have much of a career in film but is well-known enough for the gig thanks to his role in US sitcom ‘How I Met Your Mother’. He also regularly presents the Tony awards, which is more his territory due to his extensive knowledge and career on Broadway. 

2010’s Oscars opened with a musical number starring Neil Patrick Harris, who opened with the line, “I’m Neil Patrick Harris. I know, what am I doing here?” He’s a well-loved showman perfect for the role but as much as we’d love to see it, it’s unlikely given his loose ties to the industry. However, it would undoubtedly be Legen.... wait for it...... dary!

Billy Crystal
Billy would be the safe option much like Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin were meant to be two years ago, just hopefully not as boring. How safe a choice he would be has no bearing on his ability to entertain however, he's hosted before and is regarded as the best Oscar host ever so what's not to love if he returns?

With few film roles under his belt in recent years, he may be seen as an out of touch choice but, by the time of the big night and a no doubt hilarious opening monologue, all the criticism would melt away like anybody’s hopes of beating Meryl Streep to the Best Actress prize.

Robert Downey Jr and Sandra Bullock
Each time the ‘Iron Man’ star has come out to present an award he’s been nothing short of hilarious and always one of the highlights of the night. His best outing was easily for the Best Original Screenplay in 2010 where he joked about the relationship between writer and actor saying, “It’s a collaboration between handsome, gifted people and sickly little mole people.”

[Gallery: A history of Aardman Animation]

He would work best as host with a partner and who better than the also hilarious Sandra Bullock, now a darling of the show following her 2010 Best Actress win for ‘The Blind Side’. Her speech then was heartfelt and had some of the self-deprecating, deadpan humour which a truly great host needs.

Conan O’Brien
He hosted ‘The Tonight Show’ over in the US for 16 years, becoming America’s favourite chat show host in the process, which is why when he was fired to make way for Jay Leno the public was outraged. He’s carried that popularity over into new Stateside projects but in the UK he’s not so well know.

Most would recognise the name, and possibly the hair, but would not have seen much more than a few clips of his show which make it over here. A quick Youtube search of his best bits reveals how perfectly suited to the role he would be and being host of that show for so long means he’s had plenty of contact with the movie world and a good rapport with most.

Betty White
You know it makes sense.