Ricky Gervais Offers to Host Oscars Following Eddie Murphy, Brett Ratner Exits

Ricky Gervais is offering Hollywood an unbeatable deal.

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The outspoken comic, who is reportedly in talks for a Golden Globes hosting return, told Access Hollywood that he’d be happy to step in for Eddie Murphy as host of the 2012 Oscars as well.
 
“I’ll do it,” he quipped. “I’ll do that as well. I’ll be in town any way for the Globes.”

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Gervais is so enthusiastic about the possibility, that he’s even willing to cut his fee. “A two for one offer,” he suggested. “I can knock off 20 percent. Two for one deal. I’ll just stay up there.”
 
As The Hollywood Reporter previously reported, Gervais had a business dinner with Douglas Vaughn, senior vp specials at NBC, and HFPA president Aida Takla-O’Reilly in Paris to discuss a potential deal, though an offer has not officially been made.
 
“They haven’t asked me officially yet, and I don’t know whether I’d say yes. It’s very tempting,” Gervais said. “It’s tempting [because] for three hours, I’m the most feared man in LA, so that’s nice.”

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Gervais made headlines last year for his jaw-dropping performance, in which he skewered Hollywood’s elite. Following the show, HFPA president Philip Berk told THR that the host “definitely crossed the line.”
 
Murphy dropped out as host of the 84th Academy Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 9 on the heels of producer Brett Ratner’s dramatic exit. As THR first reported, Brian Grazer has been tapped to replace Ratner.