Billy Crystal Returns to the Oscars Stage

By PopEater Staff Posted Feb 27th 2011 10:37PM

Eight-time Oscar host Billy Crystal returned to his most famous stage to a rousing standing ovation. Crystal, who hasn't hosted the show since 2004, came to introduce a segment featuring Bob Hope hosting the first televised Oscars.

"So where was I," Crystal joked when hitting the stage. "Some things never change. The producers have asked me to tell you we are running a little long, so here are the nominees for Best Picture."

"The first televised Oscars was in 1953. I was five years old so for those of you who stink in math I'm 47. The host that year was Bob Hope. He hosted it 18 times. I hosted it eight, and I was pooped after two. Bob was the Oscars. He was funny, he was classy and he was what I think the Oscar host must be: a sexy movie star."

"I never worked with Bob Hope, I never met him, but one night we had a great moment together here on the stage of the Academy Awards," Crystal remembered. "Bob was sitting [there] and it made me a little jittery that he was in the audience. So I thought of a good, strong joke and I found myself looking at Bob Hope's face. And the camera was on him and he laughed and applauded and I introduced him and he blew me a kiss and gave me an affectionate little wave, and it meant the world to me," Crystal remembered. "And when the camera went away, he flipped me off. So I guess you could say we worked together."

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2011 Oscars Red Carpet Photos

Actress Natalie Portman arrives before the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

Oscars Red Carpet

Eli Wallach arrives before the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Oscars Red Carpet

Gwyneth Paltrow arrives before the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Oscars Red Carpet

Actress Natalie Portman arrives before the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

Oscars Red Carpet

Aishwarya Rai arrives before the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

Oscars Red Carpet

Actor John Hawkes, right, arrives before the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

Oscars Red Carpet

Director Steven Spielberg and his daughter Destry Allyn Spielberg arrive before the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Oscars Red Carpet

Singer Celine Dion arrives before the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Oscars Red Carpet

Actress Helen Mirren blows a kiss as she arrives before the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

Oscars Red Carpet

HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Actor Mark Wahlberg and his wife Rhea Durham arrive at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

Oscars Red Carpet

Actress Halle Berry arrives for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27th, 2011 in Hollywood, California. González Iñárritu's film Biutiful is nominated for Best Foreign Film. AFP PHOTO/ROBYN BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Oscars Red Carpet

Tags: billy crystal

Comments

(25)

Sunday 27 February

By yoyo

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Billy Crystal was wonderful.

Monday 28 February

By barbyk

the last great host

this year was a painful mess

By GLO

Flustered Anne Hathaway was essentially up there by herself, had to carry the entire hosting duties, including filling in for the dud at her side. I'd be surprised if she didn't have to whisper Franco's meager lines to him. He was always looking away, always in the wrong direction, always squinting, or looking at his blackberry - the only thing that let viewers who didn't know who he was, think he wasn't blind. Since I've seen his movies, I know that he can open his eyes all the way, focus his gaze in the right direction, look at the person he's supposed to be interacting with, and speak coherently with appropriate emphasis. Apparently, he was just too busy, or too arrogant, to acknowledge his duty to the best in his profession. I didn't enjoy watching him disrespecting his peers, his co-host, and the show's viewers. Anne Hathaway did the best she could with what she was given.

By syl1969

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I agree. And seeing him last night was a visual reminder of how truly great he was hosting the Oscars - driving home the fact that this year's show was a hugely boring flop!

By Taylor

Billy Crystal is the best of the best. Praying he will do it again especially after last nite. I was throwing things at the TV and changing the cvhannel each time Hathaway and Franco appeared. She was acting 12 and he well he wasn't acting at all, just in a stupor. WHose idiotic idea was it? That person should be fired. BRING CRYSTAL BACK- PRAYING

By doneldathomas

I wish he would host The Oscar's again!!He was a GREAT host.Miss him.............

By D.

The best Oscar host, I miss Billy not hosting. I wished he had stayed and the 2 co-hosts had been dismissed. There was no chemistry there. I always loved Billy's opening number and his little quips throughout the show.

By John L.

When Billy came back to the stage, you could sure tell by the audience reaction that he has been greatly missed.

By charleyvldm9

The 2 Co-hosts bombed,bring back the best Billy Crystal

By Leslie

The Oscars were boring. Anne Hathaway and James Franco stunk it up so bad that they had to get Billy Crystal out there to salvage what was left of that awful, boring show. I'm glad that there weren't any political speeches last night. That is getting so old and boring. Thank goodness Sean Penn wasn't up for anything otherwise he would have won and would have praised some Dictator somewhere in the World. Good going for the King's Speech and to Natalie Portman.

By Elainee

HATHAWAY AND FRANCO SURE BROUGHT THE SHOW WAY DOWN...SHOULDN'T THE HOST BE PEOPLE YOU IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE AS LEGENDS!!

BRING BILLY CRYSTAL BACK...HOPE HIS APPEARANCE WAS AN INDICATION HE WILL HOST NEXT YEAR...ALONE!!!

PUT THE FORK IN FRANCO AND HATHAWAY, THEY ARE DONE!!!!!!!!

By jacqueline

Didn't watch the oscars, it's too long and Hollywood isn't on my radar.

By jake

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He was the only saving grace for that really boring show. If ABC has that show until 2020, I'll be watching again in 2021.

By anna

BRING HIM BACK!!!!! Everyone loves him!!!

By john yates

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I DON'T WATCH NO TRASHY OSCARS. THERE WERE NO BLACK PEOPLE NOMINATED ON THAT RACIST REPUBLICAN SHOW. TO ALL BLACK PEOPLE DON'T WATCH THAT RACIST REPUBLICAN SHOW. THEY ONLY SUPPORT WHITE ACTORS AND THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT BLACK ACTORS. SO LET'S SHOW THESE RACISTS BASTARDS THAT WE DON'T SUPPORT THAT TRASH SINCE THEY CHOSE NOT TO ACKNOWELDGE US.

Hollywood is a liberal, democratic group...anything except Republican.

By happygolucky

john yates said: I DON'T WATCH NO TRASHY OSCARS. THERE WERE NO BLACK PEOPLE NOMINATED ON THAT RACIST REPUBLICAN SHOW. TO ALL BLACK PEOPLE DON'T WATCH THAT RACIST REPUBLICAN SHOW. THEY ONLY SUPPORT WHITE ACTORS AND THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT BLACK ACTORS. SO LET'S SHOW THESE RACISTS BASTARDS THAT WE DON'T SUPPORT THAT TRASH SINCE THEY CHOSE NOT TO ACKNOWELDGE US. RACIST BASTARDS? WHAT ABOUT THE BLACK AWARDS SHOWS, BLACK BEAUTY PAGENTS, MAGAZINES AND BET? YOU ARE ABOUT AS RACIST AS IT GETS. YOU WANT YOURS AND EVERTHING ELSE TOO. TOO BAD, SO SAD

By Tony,tee pee

Why did you waste your tine watching the awardes, I know that there was a all colored basket ball game on.

By Debbie DeMarco

I have always loved Billy! He is by far the best Oscar host and I cannot understand why the producers have not invited him back! As evidenced by the huge display of affection he was given when he walked on the stage, everyone loves him so BRING HIM BACK!!
Not sure what the heck was wrong with James Franco!! Anne was wonderful, but James seemed stiff, nervous and didn't seem to want to be there!! Nice try, but go back to what works.
BILLY!!

It's not the producers - it was Billy himself who said he never wanted to do it again. Too exhausing. But maybe, after last night, a campaign on Facebook (a la Betty White and SNL) could pursuay him!!!

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