Billy Crystal to the rescue for 84th Academy Awards show

CEBU, Philippines - The Oscar ceremony has much to prove today, including whether a blockbuster-free field can draw a TV audience and if Billy Crystal’s host routine remains a crowd-pleaser.

Brian Grazer and Don Mischer, the show’s producers, are laughing off the challenges: “Comedy is the direction we’re going in this year,” said Mischer.

For Crystal, who returns to the ceremony (8:30 p.m. EST, ABC) after an absence of eight years, that means jokes and patter that were being rehearsed at the last minute to avoid punch line leaks.

The actor also is bringing back two of his trademark Oscar bits: A film sequence in which he appears via CGI in clips from the nine best-picture contenders, and a musical number that pays tribute to the ceremony and nominees.

“It’s everything everybody is going to want to see from Billy Crystal,” Grazer said. “Billy was born for this job. He loves being the host and he does it with complete zest and enthusiasm. He makes it fun for everybody.”

Crystal has help. Presenting team Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis have a “great gag,” Grazer promised, with more light moments planned courtesy of co-presenters Tina Fey and Bradley Cooper and, in a group effort, the cast of “Bridesmaids.”

Among the high-wattage presenters for the 84th Academy Awards at the Hollywood & Highland Center (formerly the Kodak Theatre) are Halle Berry, Tom Cruise, Natalie Portman, Michael Douglas, Penelope Cruz and Angelina Jolie. They’ll be framed by a stage set evoking a classic movie theater and the evening’s theme: The enduring nature of the moviegoing experience.

Nominees in the lead acting categories include Viola Davis for “The Help,” Meryl Streep for “The Iron Lady,” George Clooney for “The Descendants” and Jean Dujardin for “The Artist.”

But the night’s starring role goes to Crystal, 63, who should have the audience’s goodwill in his ninth Oscar gig since he came to the rescue after Eddie Murphy dropped out as host.

Murphy’s exit followed that of ceremony producer Brett Ratner, who had drawn fire for using a pejorative word for gay men at a screening of “Tower Heist,” directed by Ratner and starring Murphy.