Age: 50.
Appearance: an older, wiser Eddie Murphy.
That would be helpful if I knew who we were talking about. Eddie Murphy – bad boy comedian and actor, star of Boomerang, Vampire in Brooklyn, Holy Man, Daddy Day Care, Norbit …
Never heard of him. Or them. What about Trading Places? Beverly Hills Cop? Beverly Hills Cop II?
Vaguely familiar, but definitely before my time. He's also the voice of Donkey in Shrek.
I love Donkey! He says what the rest of us only dare to think! What's he been up to? He, or rather Murphy, is going to host the 2012 Academy Awards.
Why him? It could be that after last year's bland and largely unsuccessful pairing of James Franco and Anne Hathaway, the Oscar folks have returned to the idea of having a solitary comedian present the show. Or it could be because Academy Awards co-producer Brett Ratner also directed Murphy's upcoming film Tower Heist.
Is he a controversial choice? Hard to say. He's known both for his scatological standup routines and his broad family comedies, so it depends which Murphy turns up on the night.
A film and the Oscars in the same year? Does this count as a comeback for Murphy? He's had a few. After a string of poor box-office showings, kids films Doctor Dolittle and Shrek rescued his fortunes. He went on to make some terrible movies, but then received an Oscar nomination for his role in Dreamgirls. Several more terrible films followed.
What was his low point? Perhaps The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002), regarded as one of the biggest box-office flops of all time; or being named as the father of Scary Spice's baby in 2007; or getting caught in a car with a transvestite prostitute in 1997. Take your pick.
Not to be confused with: war hero/movie star Audie Murphy; baseball hall of famer Eddie Murray.
Do say: "Welcome back, Eddie! The Oscars need you!
Don't say: "Hey, Donkey! What happened to your ears?"
