Billy Crystal will host the Oscars for the ninth time of his career on Sunday night, when the Academy honors the best of the best in film.
Over the past 15 years, Crystal has had to share the host title with the likes of Whoopi Goldberg (1999, 2002), Ellen DeGeneres (2007) and Steve Martin (2000, 2003, 2010).
And let's not forget last year's disaster train in James Franco and Anne Hathaway. (They really gave their best efforts, but maybe tried a little too hard -- I'm looking at you and all those live Twitter posts, Franco).
Crystal, 63, was only added to the 84th Academy Awards in November, after the show's original host and producer (Billy Crystal and Brett Ratner, respectively), dropped out.
The Academy no doubt has high hopes for this year's broadcast. Crystal will be responsible for delivering not only an entertaining four-hour broadcast; the Academy will also depend on him for ratings. The Franco and Hathaway spectacle in 2011 attracted only 37.6 million viewers worldwide, a 12 percent decrease from the year before, when Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin had hosting duties.
Do you have a favorite Oscar host from the past 15 years? Click through for a full list.
The 84th Academy Awards is on Sunday, Feb. 26, at the theater formerly known as the Kodak.
Billy Crystal will host the Oscars for the ninth time on Sunday, Feb. 26.REUTERSCo-host James Franco (L) and co-host Anne Hathaway stand onstage during the 83rd Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, February 27, 2011. REUTERSActors Steve Martin (L) and Alec Baldwin host the 82nd Academy Awards in Hollywood March 7, 2010. REUTERS$21.5 million as of 2010REUTERSHost Jon Stewart delivers his monologue at the start of the 80th annual Academy Awards, the Oscars, in Hollywood February 24, 2008. REUTERSEllen DeGeneres is an actress and the host of popular talk show “The Ellen DeGeneres”, which has more than 35 Daytime Emmy Awards. In addition, DeGeneres has 11 People’s Choice Awards and also, most recently, the Teen Choice Award for “Choice Comedian”, for a third consecutive year. Her newly launched Web site, "Going Vegan with Ellen", promotes a healthier, animal-free diet.ReutersJon Stewart hosts the 78th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood March 5, 2006.REUTERSOscars host Chris Rock (C) delivers a joke at the 77th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, February 27, 2005.REUTERSAcademy Awards host Billy Crystal opens the 76th annual Academy Awards show at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood February 29, 2004. REUTERSActor and comedian Steve Martin hosts the 75th Annual Academy Awards March 23, 2003 at the Kodak Theatre in HollywoodREUTERSMistress of Ceremonies Whoopi Goldberg performs her opening number during the 74th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood March 24, 2002.REUTERSActor, comedian and writer Steve Martin poses with large Oscar statuettes in this undated publicity photograph.REUTERSActor Billy Crystal hosts the 72nd annual Academy Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium on March 26, 2000.REUTERSOscar host Whoopi Goldberg delivers her opening monologue dressed as Queen Elizabeth to start the 71st Annual Academy Awards, March 21.REUTERSActor Billy Crystal stands with two giant Oscar statues in preparation for the upcoming Academy Awards in Los Angeles. REUTERSComedian Billy Crystal poses with giant Oscar statues, March 19. He will host the upcoming 69th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, March 24.REUTERS
