TORONTO – The 84th Academy Awards are just days away and Billy Crystal is back as the show’s host-a responsibility he’s held eight times before.
By now, the beloved 63-year-old comedian is seen as a reliable Oscar host choice by his peers and fans.
Global News takes a look back at some of Crystal’s finest Academy Awards moments.
First Oscar gig (1990)
In what would be the first of four straight times that Crystal would host, the comedian’s first gig as the Oscar M.C. featured a song about the Best Picture nominees-a montage that would soon become a Crystal trademark.
Hannibal Lecter skit (1994)
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Wheeled out by two orderlies, Crystal was bound and masked like cannibalistic psychopath Dr. Hannibal Lector in the movie “The Silence of the Lambs.” He then proceeded to walk over to audience member-and the film’s leading star-Anthony Hopkins to ask, “I’m having some of the academy over for dinner. Care to join me?” You can watch a video of the skit here.
Gilligan’s Titanic (1998)
During the 1998 Oscars, Titanic won Best Picture. As host, Crystal performed a combination of song parodies-and played the Gilligan’s Island theme song to the Titanic picture.
What are the stars thinking? (2000)
In one of our favourite Crystal moments, the comedian let us know what audience members were thinking by analyzing the nominees. His dead-on Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation, “I can’t believe there’s no Planet Hollywood!” to Judi Dench’s supposed “Oh, this thong is killing me” silent scream, Crystal’s memorable one-liners makes us hope he brings this hilarious bit back at this year’s awards.
Return of the King (2004)
Crystal was digitally inserted into a five-minute video montage of the year’s biggest films, including Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings. This Oscar opening is a front-runner for the best Crystal and Academy Award moments of all time.
– With files from The Associated Press
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