Acclaimed comedian, actor, and 2006 Academy Award nominee (for Dreamgirls),
Eddie Murphy is at the top of the list of entertainers being considered for the sought-after
hosting gig at next year's Academy Awards.
While nothing is official, the widely-circulated rumor has the
Saturday Night Live alum at the top of a shortlist of potential hosts. Other names on the list include Billy Crystal, and Jerry Seinfeld. Oprah Winfrey topped the list of most likely hosts in an online UK betting site, with Steve Martin and Billy Crystal finishing second and third.
Murphy is best known for his work as a comedic actor with a resume that includes films such as 48 hrs., The Nutty Professor, Dr. Dolittle, Coming to America, and the Beverly Hills Cop series. Murphy is also an accomplished stand-up comedian with two widely-acclaimed stand-up comedy films-- 1983's Delirious and 1987's Raw.
Organizers for the Academy Awards have recently been experimenting with the structure of their show in an effort to stop the steady decline in viewership over the years. Recent experiments have included the selection of two actors as hosts (James Franco and Anne Hathaway) and two comedians (Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin).
Event producers may be interested in Murphy because of the comedian's stage presence and ability to improv --factors which have previously been a winning combination for the show.
