Billy Crystal announced on his Twitter feed that he will host the 2012 Academy Awards.

Eddie Murphy had been chosen as host, but the comedian stepped down after his friend and creative partner, Brett Ratner, resigned as the show’s producer. Ratner was criticized for using a gay slur in an interview.
Eddie Murphy drops out as Oscars host

Crystal’s tweet of the news was quite subtle. He wrote, “Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions. Looking forward to the show.”

Brian Grazer signed on Wednesday to replace Ratner as producer of the show, which will air Feb. 26, 2012.
Story: Brian Grazer steps in as Academy Awards producer

A Facebook and Twitter campaign had sought to gather support to have The Muppets, who have a movie coming out this month, to host.

USA Network is expanding its original programming slate with the addition of two new comedy pilots, including a project that “The Producers” star Nathan Lane is currently negotiating to star in, USA co-presidents Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel announced Wednesday.

The half-hour, single-camera comedy “Untitled Douglas McGrath Project” (also known as “On We Go”) would star Lane as an unsuccessful actor who must set his Broadway aspirations aside so he can return to his Texas hometown to visit his ailing father.

Lane would also co-executive produce, along with “Bullets Over Broadway” writer Douglas McGrath, who’ll also serve writing duties. The project is being produced via Universal Cable Productions.

“Paging Dr. Freed,” meanwhile, will revolve around two brothers who take over their father’s medical practice after his untimely death. “That’s So Raven” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” vet Michael Feldman is writing the project and executive producing; “Unhitched” producer Katy McCaffrey and Brad Johnson will serve as producers. The comedy is produced via Fox 21.

““The pick-up of these half-hour comedy pilots underscores our commitment to broadening the appeal of USA’s entertainment brand,” McCumber and Wachtel said in a statement. “We’re excited to be collaborating with some of the most distinct voices in the business as we open up to new genres.”

The announcement comes following USA’s success with new series “Suits” and “Necessary Roughness,” which have placed in the top three of new cable series this summer.

(Source: TheWrap.com)