Entertainer Quickie: Eddie Murphy to Host Oscars & Jimmy Kimmel Bids a Tearful Tribute For “Uncle Frank”

While the Oscars are still half a year away, a new host has been chosen for the 2012 Oscars.

You may have seen him in comedy films such as “Beverly Hills Cop” (both I, II, and III), “The Nutty Professor,” “Doctor Dolittle,” “Coming into America” and “Trading Places.” No one can forget his role as the voice of Shrek’s over-talkative loyal donkey, Donkey in “Shrek” (all four films). Eddie Murphy will be hosting the next Academy Awards Oscars for the first time ever in his career.

According to MSNBC News, “The hosting job pairs Murphy, who began performing stand-up comedy at age 15 before joining TV’s “Saturday Night Live,” with director Brett Ratner, another Oscar first-timer best known for action movies and comedies.” The people who are responsible for organizing the Oscars chose these comedians in hopes that they will get the audience to laugh and be more entertained.

Many are happy with the organizer’s choice of Eddie Murphy. Ratner has stated that Murphy is a genius in comedy and is “one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever.”

His host role for the Oscars is scheduled to be televised on February 26, 2012, where the show will be broadcast in over 200 countries. Murphy stated, on 10News, that he is “enormously honored to join the great list of past Academy Award hosts from Hope and Carson to Crystal, Martin and Goldberg, among others.” So make sure to watch the Oscars next year for your chance to see how Eddie Murphy will fair as the next host.

Meanwhile, as Eddie shares his laughs with the world, Jimmy Kimmel shares his tears during his tribute to his beloved “Uncle Frank.”

According to ABC News, Frank was “a security guard and frequent participant on the show in routines like “Uncle Frank and Aunt Chippy’s Adventures.”” He would be called often to play as the “befuddled uncle.” One example of Frank’s past hilarious humor on the show was when he jokingly described in hilarious detail his past “gone bad” romances with Kermit the Frog.

Before his appearances and job with ABC’s  show “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, he was a retired New York City police office. Kimmel stated that Potenza’s goal was to live up to 103 and become New York City’s oldest living retired officer just because Frank wanted to “stick them for another 25 years of pension.” Instead, Frank died at 77 years of age after having different types of cancer.

Last Tuesday night, the show host talked about Frank during his live show and by the end broke and lost his composure. He then gave thanks to his crew for the love and support they had shown of their “Uncle Frank.”

According to NBC Los Angeles News, he stated “Uncle Frank loved being a part of this show. And I wanna say thanks to my coworkers who talked to him and visited him and picked him up 12 hours early for work. He loved you. And thanks to all of you who came to the show and watched, for indulging me and letting me put my crazy uncle on television.” At the end of his speech he was “barely able to finish the word “television”” before he choked up with emotion.

Even more tears were shed as Kimmel, after his speech, showed his audience a video tribute he made in memory of Frank. The video’s song was Frank Sinatra’s  “My Way.”

Photos by David Shankbone any Ken Conley