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BY JAY BOBBIN well. No introduction is necessary: Billy Crystal and Oscar already know each other quite The actor-filmmaker-comedian has hosted the Academy Awards eight times, and he's now on deck for his ninth. He'll preside over the movie industry's 84th annual ceremony Sunday, Feb. 26, on ABC ... and given this year's nominees, don't be surprised if he goes silent like an "Artist," shows some iron in the guise of a former prime minister or sports a dragon tattoo. Crystal agreed to return after originally scheduled host Eddie Murphy exited, following the departure of initially set producer Brett Ratner (replaced by Brian Grazer, who now is producing the event with award-show veteran Don Mischer). In other ways as well, Crystal felt the timing was right for him to take the job again, as he explained to this writer. A: I've seen pretty much everything. There were certain performances I hadn't seen that I went back and looked at to see if a joke might be made, because whoever that person is will now be in the audience. We'd been developing things, but when the nominations came out, that's when we really started grinding for four or five weeks. Q: Have you kept up with this year's nominated movies? Q: After things fell apart with the original hosting plans for this year, it seemed you got on board pretty quickly. A: Yeah, it took one day. I was in Atlanta finishing up a movie that's coming out in November – "Parental Guidance," with Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei, something I'd really been struggling to get made for the last five years – and that's where I'd spent most of my energy, besides my Broadway show and touring. We were 2 1/2 weeks from finishing that when (the Oscar plans) started to unravel, and I had a feeling they were going to come to me. Then Brian called and said, "I want you," and I said, "Let me think about it." And when I hung up, I actually was angry. I was like, "I'm finishing up a passion project that's been going great. I don't want to be thinking about this now." makes preparations before his 2011 bout. (HD) 11:15 a.m. (HBO) Boxing Devon Alexan- der vs. Marcos Maidana, Welter- weights. Devon Alexander takes on Marcos Maidana in a welterweight bout from St. Louis, Mo. (HD) General internet population 9 hours Newspaper website visitors spend more time online than other internet users! Newspaper site visitors What's Tehama County's most visited Website? www.RedBluffDailyNews.com Over 80,000 site visits per month, and 350,000 page views! 1:30 p.m. (HBO) On Freddie Roach Drama surrounds boxer Manny Pac- quiao. (HD) 19 hours WEDNESDAY 5:00 p.m. (HBO) On Freddie Roach Drama surrounds boxer Manny Pac- quiao. (HD) 10:45 p.m. (HBO) 2 Days: Portrait of a Fighter: Brandon Rios The final days before the boxer's fight. (HD) FRIDAY 6:00 p.m. (ESPN2) Boxing (Live) (HD) 9:45 p.m. (HBO) Ring Life: Sergio Marti- nez Profile of the fighter. (HD) GOLF SATURDAY 10:30 a.m. (NBC-24) Golf Central Live (HD) 11:00 a.m. (NBC-24) PGA Tour Golf WGC Accenture Match Play Champion- ship, Quarterfinals. From the Ritz- Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz. (Live) (HD) SUNDAY 10:30 a.m. (NBC-24) Golf Central Live (HD) 2 x 5" ad February 25 - March 2, 2012 11:00 a.m. (NBC-24) PGA Tour Golf WGC Accenture Match Play Champion- ship, Finals. From the Ritz-Carlton The Daily News and North Valley Community Newspapers 2 x 3" ad © Tribune Media Services select TV 5 Fast, High Quality Repairs with 100% Satisfaction 915 Madison St., Red Bluff 530.527.6160 Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Ma- rana, Ariz. (Live) (HD) MARTIAL ARTS SATURDAY 11:00 p.m. (CSNBA) The Best of Pride THURSDAY 11:00 p.m. (ESPN2) MMA Live (HD) FRIDAY 9:00 p.m. (CSNBA) UFC Unleashed (HD) D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Your "Local" Daily Newspaper Since 1885 To Subscribe Call Today! 1 x 2" ad 527-2151 MOTORCYCLE RACING SUNDAY 9:00 a.m. (CBS-12) Supercross The Path to Las Vegas (HD) OUTDOORS SUNDAY 9:30 a.m. (MNT-21) Angler West Join the staff of professional guides and anglers on relevant, realistic fishing excursions that will give you the knowledge and techniques to suc- ceed. SOCCER MONDAY 8:30 p.m. (CSNBA) English Premier League Soccer Arsenal vs. Tot- tenham. (HD) WEDNESDAY 11:30 a.m. (ESPN2) Soccer Italy vs. United States. From Genoa, Italy. (Live) (HD) FRIDAY 10:00 p.m. (CSNBA) UEFA Champions League Magazine (HD)