Oscars 2012 Host: Billy Crystal? Best Moments From Past Years [VIDEO]

Billy Crystal will host the 2012 Oscars to replace Eddie Murphy, who stepped down following his friend Brett Ratner's resignation.

Following the scandal caused by Ratner's homophobic slurs and the Murphy's awkward departure, the Academy and Oscars fans speculated about Murphy's replacement, with many on Twitter and Facebook campaigning to have The Muppets or comedians like Neil Patrick Harris or Kristen Wiig host the awards ceremony.

Late Thursday afternoon, actor and eight-time Oscar host Billy Crystal tweeted that he would be hosting the 84th Academy Awards, playing master of ceremonies for the ninth time in his career.

Am doing the Oscars, he posted on Twitter, so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions. Looking forward to the show.

Academy Award reps have not yet confirmed that Crystal will be the host of the 2012 Oscars, but the beloved comedian has been a frontrunner ever since Murphy bowed out.

Tom Sherak, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has even defended him as a possible choice in the past, especially against those who argue Crystal is too old to host.

Bob Hope, Sherak said, did the Oscars in his sixties.

Crystal's introductions, mid-show skits, and ab-lib routines have always been successful, and there's no reason to think the 2012 Oscars show will be any different.

Steve Martin has even been quoted as saying that hosting the Oscars is like? making love to a beautiful woman. It's something I only got to do when Billy Crystal is out of town.

See below for some of the best Billy Crystal moments at his eight previous times hosting the Oscars awards ceremony.

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