Ricky Gervais turns down Oscar gig?

At this point, it’s almost become a folk narrative: Ricky Gervais shows up at this year’s Emmys for a brief sketch and provides the only moment of relief in an otherwise disastrous ceremony. Within days there was talk of Gervais resuscitating another often-painful show—the Academy Awards—and reports had his agent in possible talks to get him the job.

But Gervais himself, it appears, wants nothing to do with it. In a BBC interview, he says that his agent was indeed contacted, but even if he were offered the job, he likely wouldn’t take it.

“No one’s there to hear jokes. They’re there to see if they’ve won an Oscar,” he told the BBC. “I still want to be invited. I want the invite to turn it down.”

He dropped a lot of “probably nots,” though, so it’s still a possibility. Recent hosts have included Jon Stewart, Chris Rock and Ellen DeGeneres, and it’s questionable if Gervais would help the Academy fulfill its stated desire to draw more young viewers to the show (though the other extreme is probably even less likely). Then again, the show has also hurt for critical acceptance in recent years, which Gervais is as qualified as anyone to bring.  

In other Gervais news, the actor recently hinted that he might want to come back for an Extras special. On the prospect of another Christmas episode, he told Zoo magazine he has an idea in mind. “I think it would be funny to see Andy trying to make it in Hollywood,” he said. “The problem is, I don't think [collaborator Stephen Merchant] wants to do it. But I reckon he will if I insist!”

Related links:
News: Buzz for Ricky Gervais to host next year's Oscars begins
News: Coming soon to the Oscars: movie ads
Ctrl-V: Oscars 2008 Live Blog

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