IT’S OFFICIAL

Eddie Murphy to Host 2012 Oscars

First time for the comedian and "Beverly Hills Cop" star.

Ladies and gentlemen, here’s your host: Eddie Murphy will be commanding the stage for the 84th annual Academy Awards on Feb. 26. Oscar producers Brett Ratner and Don Mischer presented their bid for the comedian on Tuesday to the Academy, which signed off to make it official. Though Murphy received a best-supporting-actor nomination in 2006 for his role in Dreamgirls, this is his first time hosting the Oscars. But it should come easily to the Beverly Hills Cop star, who has presented awards on other broadcasts. Ratner, who directed Murphy and his costar Ben Stiller in the forthcoming comedy Tower Heist, must have been impressed by the comedian’s acting chops.