The beloved Oscar host Billy Crystal made a special appearance during the 83rd annual Academy Awards Sunday, receiving a standing ovation as he took the stage.
“Here’s a very special surprise, one of the greatest Oscar hosts of all time, someone I have even more respect for right about now. ”said Anne Hathaway, who together with the Spider-Man actor James Franco, hosted the evening’s ceremony.
“Billy Crystal,” Hathaway announced with a big smile.
“Wow,” Crystal, the 62-year-old comedian, said to his peers at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. “So, where was I?”
Crystal, who has hosted the Academy Awards eight times in 1990 to 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2004, said “some things never change [in the Oscars]: The producers asked me to say we’re running a little long, so here are the nominees for Best Picture.”
The crowd erupted in laughter.
After the laughter eventually died, Crystal paid homage to the legendary comedian Bob Hope, who hosted the Academy Awards 18 times, starting in the 1940s. He then ran a clip showing Hope saying: “Welcome to the Academy Awards, or as it is known in my house, Passover.”
Crystal humbly said that Hope did a better job than him hosting the big show.
“I hosted it eight and was pooped after two,” said Crystal.
