Otay!

Hollywood is abuzz--Eddie Murphy will host the Oscars.  It's an interesting choice.  A true movie star and a true stand-up.  Also a guy who doesn't make that many public appearances.  But is the timing right?  If this were 25 years ago, you bet--the hottest star around who loves to make people laugh.  Lately, however, he's had as many flops as hits, and it's not clear if he's still got the chops.

I've always thought he's one of the least appreciated actors in town.  He does a great job in almost every film, but because he mostly works in "dumb" comedies, and because he makes it look easy, critics are less than impressed.  On the other hand, I've never loved his stand-up--it always seemed like a pale imitation of Richard Pryor.

And that's another problem, of course.  He works blue.  Can he do the hosting duties and put over specially prepared clean material at the same time?  It's a tricky balance which he probably could handle in the SNL days, but that was thirty years ago.

Most people didn't think Chris Rock pulled it off, for example. But that's part of why Murphy's a good choice.  Everyone will tune in to see how it plays out.