Billy Crystal Itching To Host The Oscars Again
Aug. 15 2011, Published 3:30 p.m. ET
The debacle of the most recent Academy Awards telecast hosted by Anne Hathaway and James Franco -- roundly considered one of the worst in recent memory -- was saved for only a few minutes when Billy Crystal made a cameo appearance.
Now Crystal, who hosted the ceremony eight times between 1990 and 2004, says he is "itchy" to do it again.
Crystal made the admission during a special 20th anniversary screening of City Slickers.
"It got to be too much after a while and the sameness in my life," the actor said, answering a question from the member of the audience.
"That's why I pulled back. And then when I thought I might want to do it again, they were on to other people. It's always fun. It's really hard, but maybe one or two more times? I don't know. They know where I am.
"I came out last year as a surprise," Crystal, 63, continued. "It was a last-minute decision. They had called and said would you do this thing and honor Bob Hope and that was a kind of cool thing to do. I said OK. I did it, and people wanted to see me, they stood up, and I couldn't talk for about a minute," he said about the thunderous standing ovation.
"I got a little itchy. So we'll see what happens. I can't promise anything."
Crystal said it would always take him four or five months to prepare for the hosting gig, so if this year's producers want him -- it's time to pick up the phone!
The 84th Academy Awards are scheduled for ABC Feb. 26.
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