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Eddie Murphy to host Oscars

Eddie Murphy at the First Annual Comedy Awards, March 26, 2011, in New York. Getty

(CBS) Eddie Murphy is hosting the Academy Awards. It's not the return to stand-up that many fans have hoped for, but it's live and it's in front of an audience. Sounds like a decent compromise.

Pictures: Eddie Murphy

The L.A. Times and Deadline are reporting the Oscar-nominated actor and comedian has agreed to host the 84th Academy Awards. Over the weekend, Deadline broke the news that telecast producer and film director Brett Ratner's first choice to host was Murphy. Now that's reportedly happened. The Academy Awards telecast will air Feb. 26, 2012.

Murphy stars in Ratner's new film, "Tower Heist," with Ben Stiller, Matthew Broderick and Casey Affleck. The movie is scheduled to open Nov. 4. Ratner also directed the "Rush Hour" series and "X-Men: The Last Stand."

What do you think? Is Eddie Murphy a good choice? Let us know in the comments.

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