Hollywood actor Billy Crystal has declined the offer to host the 78th Academy Awards citing his busy schedule due to the Broadway opening of the show
700 Sundays as the reason.
Among other things that are keeping the comedian busy are plans to direct a film and write another book. So far, Crystal, with his subtle humor and seriously funny jokes, has successfully hosted the Oscars in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2004.
Earlier, actor Chris Rock also declined an invitation to host the most popular film awards function in the world. Rock, who was last year's host, had ended up offending some actors present at the ceremony. Among others on the list are comedians Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and Steve Martin.
Bets are already being placed over who would play the host to the popular show. “This is the most-watched awards show on television. Anything can happen on live TV and we're betting on it!” said Mickey Richardson, chief executive of BetCRIS.com, where people are betting on the names that would come up tops.
Whoever the host, he or she is unlikely to match the success that Crystal has enjoyed at the Academy Awards ceremonies. In 1992, the comedian stared into the camera and said, 'Didn't inhale', making a dig at Bill Clinton, then a presidential candidate, who said he 'didn't inhale' whenever he smoked marijuana. To date, the joke remains one of the funniest lines in the history of the Academy Awards.
700 Sundays, a two-act play written by Crystal, chronicles his childhood on Long Island. The play has won a Tony Award in 2005 for the best special theatrical event. Crystal has appeared in a number of films, with his role of a harried psychiatrist in
Analyze This and
Analyze That being the most memorable one.
