Ricky Gervais To Host The Oscars?

Updated 1:50 PM PST, Thu, Sep 25, 2008

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It’s official: British funnymen are the toast of Hollywood!

Just weeks after U.K. comedian Russell Brand and his trademark teased-out hair hosted the MTV Video Music Awards comes news that “Office” creator Ricky Gervais may be being lined up to helm the Oscars.

[ VIEW THE PHOTOS: Inside The 2008 Emmy Awards ]

Following Ricky’s dry-humored speech advice at this past weekend’s Emmy crowd (“Don’t cry, it’s pathetic. It’s just an award.”) to his mock bullying of American “Office” star Steve Carell (“I made you what you are,” and “Give me my Emmy!”), pressure is being put on Ricky’s reps to meet with the Oscar organizers, according to Entertainment Weekly.

“The buzz around town is that Ricky should host the Oscars,” a source close to Ricky told the magazine.

[ VIEW THE PHOTOS: Comedians ]

But Ricky could face strong competition for the show job as the Academy Awards are being broadcast on ABC — the same network “The Tonight Show’s” Jay Leno is rumored to be headed to when his NBC contract runs out in May.

According to MSNBC.com Entertainment Columnist Courtney Hazlett, Jay has a good chance of nabbing the gig.

“I think there’s a huge possibility that Leno could land the job,” she said. “Here’s the situation — award shows are dying a slow death. You need someone like Jay Leno who wants to show he’s still relevant to take over the helm and make people laugh again. If he can actually engage the audience and make people keep their television on for the whole show, then he’s going to be a hero.”

[ VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Brit Pack ]

But there is also talk of a third contender for the Oscars – a Grammy winner.

After his own success helming the ESPYs, rumors also began flying around that Justin Timberlake could be up for the post, something he recently told Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush, for “The Billy Bush Show,” he would be thrilled to undertake.

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