Billy Crystal panned by critics after hosting Academy Awards for a NINTH time

• Controversially joked that he wanted to 'hug a black woman' after The Help
• 'Who is Billy Crystal?' Comedian's name trended on Twitter

He's no stranger to hosting the Oscars, having presented the ceremonies over the years a record eight times.
But it seems that maybe Billy Crystal has lost the edge which stood him above other hosts, with many critics labelling this year's Academy Awards 'the most boring Oscars ever'.
Crystal was panned for lack of originality when it came to his jokes, while the entire ceremony was accused of 'showing its age'.

Lack of originality: Billy Crystal was widely panned by critics after hosting the Oscars for a record ninth time

Variety commented in their Oscars review: 'The whole introductory sequence felt like a pallid sequel - a ghost of Oscars past - and not solely because the host had to labor to incorporate nine nominees.
'Joke all you want, but for a night, anyway, Oscar unabashedly showed its age. And if that represented an improvement over 2011, chalk it up to this ballot grading on a curve.'
The Washington Post added: 'He pulled out a lot of ba-da-dum gags that at least (the very least) had the appeal of seeming familiar as comfy slippers.'
Meanwhile, Deadline Hollywood founder Nikki Finke was blogging throughout the ceremony on the website, commenting at one point: 'Billy Crystal tweeted before the show, "Opening number changed. War Horse broke his leg, had to put him down." Funnier line than anything onstage now.'

A step too far?: Billy portrayed Sammy Davis, Jr. in blackface in a prerecorded skit shown at the Oscars

Comment: Comedian Paul Scheer took to his Twitter account to scold the star for his behaviour

Less than impressed: Model Coco Rocha wasn't particularly enthused by Billy's performance

People magazine said: 'Crystal might have tried freshening up his old opening routine. Considering that last year's Oscars were so thumpingly bad – co-host James Franco behaved as if he'd been taken out of the freezer, left on the counter and unevenly thawed – last night's broadcast was a welcome relief.'
Crystal's hosting of the ceremony wasn't entirely controversy free, however, as the comedian attracted criticism with a string of racial slurs.
The first blow came during the host’s opening number, which saw him pay tribute to Midnight in Paris in a 1920s pre-recorded skit shown at the ceremony which saw him portray Sammy Davis, Jr. in blackface.
Crystal has portrayed the entertainer several times in the same manner on Saturday Night Live, but something about the ceremony nod saw a series of furious viewers vent their anger over Twitter.
Perhaps it did not help that the actor then made a controversial remark after Octavia Spencer scooped the Best Supporting Actress award for her role as a maid in The Help, which is set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights era in 1960s America.

Setting tongues wagging: Billy portrayed Sammy Davis, Jr. in blackface which rattled some viewers

Time to give it up? Crystal was also panned for his singing and dancing around the stage

He said: ‘After I saw The Help I just wanted to hug the first black woman I saw, which from Beverly Hills is about a 45 minute drive.’
Fellow celebrities flagged up the remarks and comedian Paul Scheer took to his Twitter account to comment after Octavia Spencer scooped the Best Supporting Actress award for The Help.
He wrote: ‘Octavia Spencer's win shows just how far we've come since Billy Crystal performed in Blackface.’
Meanwhile model Coco Rocha wrote: ‘Ive not smiled once since Billy Crystal started singing yet everyone in the audience is having THE TIME OF THEIR LIFE?! Whats wrong with me?’
One furious Twitter user took to their account to post: 'Well, I Happen To Be A Black Woman Who Resides In Beverly Hills. Should I Have My Assistant #Alert Billy Crystal?'

Tactless?: Billy made a racial remark when talking about Oscar-winning movie The Help

Another said of the ceremony: 'That Billy Crystal joke about wanting to hug the first black woman he saw is EXACTLY why I refuse to support it.'
And after the controversial joke, the New York Times commented: 'It was a line that could have been used back when Hattie McDaniel, the first black actress to be honored with an Academy Award, won for playing a maid in Gone With the Wind.'
However, veteran blaxploitation actress Pam Grier didn't appear offended by the jokes and eve congratulated Billy on a good show.
She said: 'Billy Crystal was very funny hosting the Oscars. Hugo is a feast for your eyes. Brilliant performance Viola. kudos to all.'

Back in the day: Billy first hosted the Oscars back in 1990, shortly after achieving worldwide fame and legions of female fans in When Harry Met Sally

Crystal also used the stint to make fun of some of the older nominees at the Academy Awards, namely Christopher Plummer and Max von Sydow, both 82.
Crystal told the audience: ‘Next year this’ll be called the Flomax theatre.’
Justin Bieber took to Twitter to congratulate the comedian on hosting a great show and said: 'and a BIG SHOUTOUT to Billy Crystal. Thanks for letting be a part of the show and you killed it tonight. #muchlove.'
However, many more young viewers were left wondering just who the comedian was, with some of the posts getting increasingly aggressive with the use of bad language as the show went on.
The phrase 'Who is Billy Crystal?' was even trending on the social networking site at one point.

Comeback: It has been eight years since Billy last hosted the Academy Awards

Crystal first hosted the ceremony back in 1990, shortly after he won himself legions of female fans thanks to his role alongside Meg Ryan in 1989 romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally.
However, considering that Crystal is now arguably more famous for voicing Mike Wazowski in Monsters Inc. and the upcoming sequel, it may be that affection for the comedian is possibly starting to wane slightly.
It appears as though the Academy Award producers may have been hoping for a more controversial host, which comes after Ricky Gervais was instated for a third time as the presenter of the Golden Globes.

Winner's circle: Billy posed with Meryl Streep, who scooped the Best Actress gong

Oscar winner: Comedian Paul Scheer tweeted that Octavia Spencer's win 'shows just how far we've come since Billy Crystal performed in Blackface

And Crystal was not the only attendee causing controversy, as actor Sacha Baron Cohen showed up on the red carpet with an urn full of 'ashes' which he then threw over E! host Ryan Seacrest.
Crystal’s appointment as host for this year’s ceremony came after Eddie Murphy pulled out in November.
The actor and comedian stepped down after producer Brett Ratner resigned amid an argument over an apparent anti-gay slur.

BILLY CRYSTAL'S OSCAR GAGS

• 'Next year this’ll be called the Flomax theatre.'
• 'Please welcome a recurring dream of mine — Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez.'
• 'After I saw The Help I just wanted to hug the first black woman I saw, which from Beverly Hills is about a 45 minute drive.’
• 'Nothing can take the sting out of economic problems like watching millionaires collecting gold statues.'
• On Jean Dujardin's Best Actor win: 'They must be going nuts in France right now. Or whatever the French have in place of joy.'
• 'Please welcome the original Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Angelina Jolie.'

VIDEO: Controversial. Billy Crystal came back to hosting with a bang