Archive for Eddie Murphy

Sorry, Kermie! Billy Crystal Is Our New Oscars Host

According to his recent tweets Billy Crystal is officially our new Oscars host, a not-so-suprising pick we think is just — Miss Piggy, control your judo chops! After Eddie Murphy pulled out of the awards telecast yesterday following Brett Ratner’s Oscar resignation, rumors swirled that the new host could be anyone from the Muppets to, well, Eddie Murphy again. “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 this afternoon. Looks like replacement producer Brian Grazer went with a classic; Billy Crystal has hosted the Oscars eight times in total, his last gig airing in 2004. Plus, this doesn’t mean we won’t get a Muppets musical number. Please let it mean we get a Muppets musical number.

[Photo: WENN]

Brett Ratner Out, Brian Grazer In As Oscars 2012 Producer

Brian Grazer is the new producer for the Oscars 2012, which just goes to show how quickly things happen in this town. Brett Ratner just resigned the post after his controversial homophobic statement at a Tower Heist Q&A on Sunday. Eddie Murphy also just quit as the host saying, “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.”

Grazer is a heavyweight and has co-produced movies with partner Ron Howard, such as A Beautiful Mind, and Apollo 13. He’s also responsible for TV shows like Arrested Development, 24 and Friday Night Lights. And now he’ll be working with producer Don Mischer on the telecast of the awards show. About this new development, Grazer had this to say, “It’s very gratifying to be part of a show that honors excellence in the medium to which I have devoted so much of my career. Don is a legend, and I am excited to work with him.”

Now all the need is a new host. Word is that he’s trying to convince Eddie Murphy to change his mind, so stay tuned.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Eddie Murphy Drops Out As Oscars Host

Eddie Murphy, no! One day after Brett Ratner’s Oscar resignation following his public use of a homophobic slur, Murphy has bowed out of the 2012 telecast as well. Everyone and their mother has been fantasizing about all those funny bits and spot-on musical numbers we had to look forward, ever since Eddie Murphy’s Oscar hosting gig was announced at the beginning of September. Unfortunately, looks like the Tower Heist director and star were a package deal when it comes to the Academy Awards. We blame you for this, Brett Ratner! We blame youuuuuuuuuuuu!

Eddie announced his decision in a statement this afternoon, saying that he respected “each party’s decision with regard to a change of producers.” Said Murphy, “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.” We aren’t going to lie; we were sort of hoping this was the start of a brand-new chapter in Murphy’s career. Now, we don’t know what to think. Do you think Eddie is making a huge mistake?

[Photo: WENN]

Eddie Murphy To Host Next Year’s Oscars

UPDATE: It’s official! Eddie Murphy will host the Oscars at next year’s ceremony on February 26, 2012. “Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever,” Oscars producer Brett Ratner announced today. “With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances — especially onstage — I know he will bring an excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show Don and I want to produce in February.”

After living through the sad trumpet sound that was the Anne Hathaway James Franco Oscars ceremony, rumors about Eddie Murphy’s Oscars hosting gig make us so excited, we forgot all about Norbit. Well, we almost forgot all about it, as clearly we were still able to remember to reference…okay, now it’s gone.

Deadline reports that next year’s Oscars producer, director Brett Ratner, is submitting Murphy’s name to the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences today, with the hopes that Eddie, who is allegedly “showing interest,” will officially come onboard as 2012 host. Ratner likely came up with the idea from casting Murphy across from Ben Stiller in his upcoming Tower Heist, where he was reminded how good Murphy can be even when not channeled by a whimsical, kind-hearted CGI donkey.

[Photo: WENN]

Eddie Murphy Leaves The Playground In The Tower Heist Trailer

The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Daddy Day Care, Meet Dave, Shrek Forever After: if we said Eddie Murphy has literally spent the last decade making movies for people incapable of tying their own shoes, we would hardly be exaggerating. How can someone make Dreamgirls between Norbit and Shrek 2? He almost won an Oscar for that role!

Luckily if the Tower Heist trailer is any indication, it seems like Murphy is back on top of his hilarious game as a charming ex-con in a (thankfully) adult action-comedy. Directed by Brett Ratner, the movie hints that we might even be seeing some hard-core flirtation with Gabourey Sidibe, which is clearly not for children. The film also co-stars Ben Stiller and Matthew Broderick. Actually, it is nice to see all three of these leading men in a film that doesn’t involve talking museum exhibits or CGI mice or ogres voiced by Mike Myers. Though, okay, if the Klumps stop by and make a brief cameo, we can’t exactly going to complain or anything.

Celebrities Take In The Lakers Playoff At Staples Center

Unfortunately the Dallas Mavericks beat the L.A Lakers, but the very close game was witnessed by a number of stars who watched intently at Staples Center. Of them, we’ve already brought up birthday boy David Beckham celebrating with Gordon Ramsey. Seal was also there, along with his adorable daughter Leni, and was seen taking photographs of the on court action. We were also stoked to see a pregnant January Jones arrive at the game with her pal Jennifer Carpenter. Throw in Justin Timberlake, Joe Jonas, Eddie Murphy, Ricky Martin and Chord Overstreet and you have one seriously celebrity-heavy game! Check out the photographs from our gallery below. [Photos: Splash News Online]

Eddie Murphy’s Ex Burned Through $15 Million In 4 Years, Now Broke As A Joke

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Joining the long illustrious list of celebrity bankruptcies, apparently Eddie Murphy’s ex Nicole Mitchell is broke after blowing through $15 million in 4 years, or since the couple’s divorce was finalized in 2006. Mother of five of Murphy’s seven kids, Mitchell reportedly took her divorce settlement as one lump payment rather than in monthly increments, which must have seemed like such a good idea at the time. Supposedly Nicole is not only flat-broke but owes $846,000 in tax liens, as well as millions toward her house, legal fees and landscaping fees. We can’t even imagine how someone would spend that much moola in just a few years, but we can safely assume it involves exorbitantly expensive topiary. Or it’s yacht-related, one of the two.

While her own finances are in dire straits, Mitchell is currently engaged to former NFL player and current FOX NFL studio analyst Michael Strahan. Now we’re not saying Nicole is a gold digger, mainly because if she is, then she is TERRIBLE at it. We’re just saying maybe you should think about getting a pre-nup, Michael. And a high-quality padlock to put on your yacht.

[Photo: WENN]

Alanis Morissette Gives Her Thanks To Prince Of Persia

Alanis Morissette

Thank U, Gyllenhaal. Thank U, synergy. Thank U, corporate resurgence! Alanis Morissette was on hand for the Prince Of Persia premiere in LA last night, having recorded “I Remain,” the track that plays over the film’s closing credits. “I saw a screening of the movie and immediately felt compelled to write a song within 10 minutes,” she told USA Today. “It wrote itself.” Funny, we just assumed the producers remembered her bombastic City Of Angels track “Uninvited” when they needed something vaguely middle eastern for the credits, but her version seems a lot more flattering. Maybe she can make a whole album based on summer blockbuster video game adaptations! Look forward to her “A World Of Crafted War” in 2011.

An event honoring producer Jerry Bruckheimer coincided with the Persia premiere, giving pec-powered Persia star Jake Gyllenhaal the chance to mingle with action heroes like Tom Cruise, Nicolas Cage and Bruce Willis. See photos of these stars and more in the gallery below (is it just us or does Billy Bob Thornton look like the dad from Gossip Girl these days?).

[Photo: Getty Images]

Cameron Diaz Shows Some Leg For Shrek

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz may have been promoting Shrek Forever After at the film’s premiere in LA this weekend, but her short skirt makes a little more excited for Knight And Day, where we’ll actually get to see those legs in action. If it wasn’t for these promotional appearances we wouldn’t even remember the latest Shrek sequel’s title—why not just call it Shrek: The Last Chapter if that’s what they’re going to put on every single poster? And how can Shrek have a “last chapter” if he’s “forever after” anyway? Possibly also pondering the contradiction with Cameron were stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas—though with paychecks like theirs’ we probably wouldn’t care either.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Shrek Forever After Premieres At Tribeca Film Fest

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The stars of the latest (and last) installment of the Shrek franchise, Shrek Forever After, were out in Manhattan last night to walk the green carpet (because Shrek is green! And it’s Earth Day! Let’s pack as much metaphor into this green carpet as possible!) for the film’s premiere as part of the Tribeca Film Festival. That means that festival founder Robert DeNiro was on hand, and plenty of other randos, too. This event is further proof that Kelly Bensimon has become one of those traveling garden gnomes that has its photo taken at every possible opportunity, thus making us wonder how it’s logistically possible for her to be in so many places at once. Check out all the ogre-loving attendees below.

[Photos: Getty Images]