Ricky Gervais to Host Oscars?

UPDATE: Billy Crystal will be officially hosting the Oscars.

Eddie Murphy has dropped the Oscars hosting gig, which is a shame because he probably would have been awesome, but now there’s a new potential candidate in mind: Ricky Gervais.

Gervais, in an interview with Access Hollywood, said that he would be up for hosting the Oscars, even though he’s already in talks to host the Golden Globes.

“I’ll do that as well. I’ll be in town any way for the Globes,” Gervais said. “I can knock off 20 percent. Two for one deal. I’ll just stay up there.”

Gervais has already proven himself as a great, fearless host for the Golden Globes, and I’m pretty sure we’d get more of the same from him on Oscar night if the powers that be offer him the job. They haven’t asked him (yet), but they definitely should!

“It’s tempting [because] for three hours, I’m the most feared man in LA, so that’s nice,” Gervais said.

Many will be crossing their fingers for Gervais to get the offer for the gig, but let’s not get our hopes up yet.  The Hollywood Foreign Press runs the show, it’s their party, and they most likely want someone who will entertain, but not make a mockery of the actual event.  Gervais has entertainingly roasted nominees and audience members at the Golden Globes, so that’s a drawback in the eyes of the HFP.

Gervais is what the Oscars need. Then again, anything is better than that James Franco and Anne Hathaway combo.