Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Tower Heist director Brett Ratner announced he wouldn’t be producing the 84th Academy Awards, having come under fire for making a gay slur in reference to the show’s rehearsal process. The following day, there were more sighs of disappointment than relief when Eddie Murphy, Ratner’s pick for host, declared he was out too. Despite Murphy’s up and down career, some critics (including former Oscar host Jon Stewart) were looking forward to the return of a relatively seasoned pro after last year’s rookies, James Franco and Anne Hathaway, bombed as hosts. So who should replace him? From Billy Crystal to Justin Timberlake, The Daily Beast looks at potential candidates.
