eddie murphyAfter boatloads of controversy, Brett Ratner, director of Tower Heist, producer of Catfish, and star of the worst commercials in the history of television, has decided to step down from his prestigious role as co-producer of the 2012 Oscars. And I say good. Why? Because he's an idiot who not only managed to use a gay slur when answering an innocuous question about rehearsals, but who managed to come off as the world's most unattractive, unlikeable man during a recent interview with Howard Stern.

But I'm not here to talk about Brett Ratner. Not really. I'm here to talk about Eddie Murphy. And how it was a bad move for him to quit his job as host of the Oscars just because his stupid friend's out.

Apparently Murphy, who, let's be honest, stepped in s**t scoring such a coveted gig, felt that things just wouldn't be the same without Ratner's genius input. Tom Sherak, the president of the Academy, said in a statement: "I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well."

So, now not only has Murphy lost out on something that could have -- could have -- breathed a whole new life into his career, he's gone and pissed off the Academy since he, you know, left them high and dry with three months to go. Bad move for an actor to piss off the Academy.

As dumb as I think Murphy's decision was, though, I must admit, I do have respect for the guy. If he quit because he thought the show really wouldn't be as good without Ratner, clearly he's not someone who's solely concerned with his career, he's someone who's concerned with his craft. Which makes The Adventures of Pluto Nash and The Haunted Mansion even bigger enigmas.

I may be in the minority, but I was kind of looking forward to seeing Murphy give the ol' Oscars a whirl. I mean, for the past God knows how many years, the show has been one big yawn factory; he couldn't have possibly made it any worse. Plus, when I think of Murphy, for some reason, I'm always brought back to the '80s and the roles he played during that time -- Prince Akeem in Coming to America, Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop -- and the Oscars were good then. I don't know, maybe it's just a totally nonsensical association.

So, I guess props to Eddie for having an actual backbone in the typically spineless town of Hollywood. And good luck to the Academy finding a replacement on such short notice. Just please, don't bring in James Franco.

Did you think Murphy was going to make a good Oscar host? Who would you like to see replace him?

 

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