This whole “What’s going to happen with the Oscars?” thing has become a big enough story, right? Usually it’s like pulling teeth, trying to get you bitches to care about these inside-Hollywood stories about producers and such. Well, ever since Brett Ratner mentioned, in passing, that he thinks rehearsals are for homosexuals (but worse), it’s been all hands on deck. Brett was allowed to “step down” rather gracefully, with an open letter describing in detail his apology. Within hours, Eddie Murphy, Brett’s hand-picked Oscar host, had also stepped down, this time with a less graceful apology. And now, hours after that, the Academy already has their replacement producer: Brian Grazer, the power-house producing partner of Ron Howard. Not the worst choice at all. Brian has won an Oscar before too – for A Beautiful Mind (for Best Picture). And there are already rumors that Brian wants “multiple hosts” for the Oscars. RUH-ROH.

Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer will take the reins as producer of the 84th Academy Awards after Brett Ratner dramatically stepped down, it was announced last night.

Sources tell Page Six the show under Grazer may now include an ensemble of “hot” presenters rather than one key host.

Grazer was due to meet last night with brass from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, sources said, to discuss new host ideas and to rescue the Feb. 26 live telecast.

The move to hire Grazer — in the wake of Ratner’s and then host Eddie Murphy’s dramatic exits — came as Imagine Entertainment honcho Grazer touched down in Los Angeles from New York late Tuesday after he’d screened his Clint Eastwood film, “J. Edgar,” which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and is gaining big Oscar buzz.

“No decision has been made about who will take over the hosting duties,” said a source. “Brian has some ideas, but he wants to see who the Academy has already spoken to and what they think.” Also, events producer Don Mischer has stayed on to co-produce the show.

The choice of Grazer came in the wake of Ratner’s spectacular Oscars step-down: He resigned Tuesday after saying, “Rehearsal’s for fags” at a Q&A for the Grazer-produced “Tower Heist” last week, and then talking to Howard Stern about his eventful sex life.
Murphy followed suit, resigning as host yesterday, leaving the awards in chaos and Grazer to save the day.

About Murphy, a source told us, “Brett had persuaded him to host, and without Brett there, Eddie didn’t feel he wanted to do it.”

Hiring Grazer, who produced the Best Picture-winning “A Beautiful Mind,” will certainly keep many of the Academy’s more traditional guard happy after its experiment to be hip with Ratner backfired.

Academy president Tom Sherak announced the move. Grazer did not return calls.

[From Page Six]

Some people think Grazer’s kind of meh, but I think he’ll probably be pretty good. His reputation around Hollywood is as a detail-oriented task master who is capable of overseeing both huge, big-budget projects and smaller, narrower passion projects. Basically, he’s a great producer, and I think he’ll probably do a great job. As for the whole multiple host thing – as a long-time Oscar viewer, I prefer when they have some big personality being the ass-kissing ringmaster with just a hint of rage, honestly. Hugh Jackman was a great host. Steve Martin was a great host. They should totally ask one of them back.

I was thinking about this, though – what actors does Brian Grazer have long-standing relationships with? Tom Hanks. Gary Sinise. Clint Eastwood (but as a director). Russell Crowe. Big MEN. Tom Hanks isn’t a terrible idea as host. Neither is Gary Sinise, although Sinese isn’t really “funny” – but he hosts a lot of those veterans events in Washington, and he does a bang-up job there. Entertainment Weekly has a list too, and they included some of my picks as well – oooh, they put Jason Bateman on their list! Bateman wouldn’t be horrible either. I’m still hoping for Steve Martin, though.

Photos courtesy of WENN.