Updated at 5:44 p.m. PT

By now most everyone's heard that after a Nov. 4 screening "Tower Heist" at L.A.'s Arclight Cinemas, director Brett Ratner came out for a Q&A, and when asked by the moderator whether he prepares and rehearses with his actors before shooting a scene, Ratner waved his hand and said, "rehearsal's for fags." New York mag's Vulture blog was among the first to report this, culling sources and Twitter feeds, and by the end of the day Monday, the story had gone viral and Ratner issued an apology.

D Dipasupil / Getty Images file

He told The Wrap, “I apologize for any offense my remarks caused. It was a dumb way of expressing myself. Everyone who knows me knows that I don’t have a prejudiced bone in my body. But as a storyteller I should have been much more thoughtful about the power of language and my choice of words.”

Forget for a moment that Ratner just recently said that he "banged" Olivia Munn, but "she wasn't Asian back then" -- something he later said he lied about, and then apologized for. Even without that context, the notion that you can still be colossally dumb, to use Ratner's own word, not to mention outrageously insensitive. As Marc Harris so eloquently wrote in his blog, "There’s not really a long, nuanced debate to be had about this. If he had used an equivalent racial or religious slur, the discussion would go something like, 'You’re fired.' Apology or not. The same rule applies here. You don’t get a mulligan on homophobia. Not in 2011."

For as silly as the Oscars can seem at times, it's still a show that's meant to represent the best that the film industry has to offer. Ratner in no way fits that bill. He stepped down from producing the Oscars on Tuesday. "He did the right thing for the Academy and for himself," Tom Sherak, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said in a statement.

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Gary Hershorn / Reuters file

Billy Crystal takes the stage during the 83rd Academy Awards in Hollywood on Feb. 27.

I'd have to review the tapes, but I might have made a remark during last year's Oscar broadcast, commenting that the show had deteriorated so much, I actually missed Billy Crystal. I think I'd like to take that back, now that Crystal seems to be throwing his hat back in the Oscar ring. The eight-time host told the audience at the Aug. 12 "City Slickers" 20th anniversary screening in Santa Monica, Calif., that last year's Oscars cameo made him "itchy" to return to the show, the Los Angeles Times reports. 

"It got to be too much after a while and the sameness in my life," Crystal said. "That's why I pulled back. And then when I thought I might want to do it again, they were on to other people. It's always fun. It's really hard, but maybe one or two more times? I don't know. They know where I am."

Crystal said that his cameo was not in the works long before it actually happened.

"I came out last year as a surprise. It was a last-minute decision," Crystal explained to the sold-out audience on Friday. "They had called and said would you do this thing and honor Bob Hope and that was a kind of cool thing to do. I said OK. I did it, and people wanted to see me, they stood up, and I couldn't talk for about a minute [while waiting for the ovation]. And, um, I got a little itchy. So we'll see what happens. I can't promise anything."

The 84th Academy Awards will take place Feb. 26. Are you more likely to tune in if Crystal hosts? Or did last year's tepid performance by Anne Hathaway and James Franco sour you on the show? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Anne Hathaway stopped by TODAY on Thursday to discuss her role in the new animated film "Rio," but it was her comments on another gig that was for the birds that caught our attention.

Hathaway told Matt Lauer that she was certainly aware of the harsh criticism that her hosting of the Oscars garnered -- alongside fellow actor James Franco.

"I just felt so much joy to get to be a part of movie history," Hathaway said, but acknowledged that critics called it "the worst show ever ... I think that qualifies as tough."

But she said reaction from fans on the street and her own takeaway from the evening are enough to make for memories that she will cherish and "tell her grandkids about, hopefully."

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Oscar joke writer Bruce Vilanch is opening up about how he thought James Franco's critically (and, basically, universally) panned Oscar hosting stint went, and Vilanch has a different, insider take on why the performance fell so flat.

"He has so many balls in the air, he didn't get to town till Thursday before the show on Sunday. And so we e-mailed a lot," Vilanch told Vulture. But we had a lot of meetings. He had a bunch of people who were writing for him, and if it had been him alone, it would have been different. But it was him and Anne Hathaway, and they both had to be serviced. So there was a lot of communication beforehand. But he didn't get there."

He also said that Franco was not high, as many have speculated. "No, he wasn't high," Vilanch said. "I was with him, and he wasn't high. And I asked him, 'Are you high, and can I have some?' And he said no to both."

Michael Yada / EPA

Making a conclusion the rest of the Oscar-watching audience made on Sunday, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak told The Hollywood Reporter that "the chemistry seemed to be off" between hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway.

Sherak, however, did not go on to blame Franco and Hathaway for anything that seemed wrong about the Oscar broadcast. He said that they did exactly what the producers and the Academy asked of them, but, "the problem is, in the past when you have a comic, that comic can play off what happens on the show," Sherak said of the hosts. "I think that was missing. I think they were doing their job. Franco is a very charming guy, but sometimes you need a comic to make fun of things."

If there is any blame to be placed on the broadcast, which saw viewership fall and the average age of the viewer rise to 50.6 years, it's the crop of movies that came out in 2010.

"What happens is very much impacted by the movies in any given year," he told THR. "We didn't have an 'Avatar' or a 'Titanic' this year. We had some really good movies that did a lot of business, but it is what it is. Next year, if there is a huge movie, you'll see more people."

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Gifting lounges: They're like Oprah's Favorite Things, but for celebrities who go to awards shows. It's now official that I'm never getting into a Favorite Things episode, but I was lucky enough to get an inside look at one of Oscar week's premiere gifting suites, the Extra Luxury Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel.

What did the lucky ones walk away with? First up, there was complimentary, on-site hair styling, makeup and manicures at a pop-up L’Oréal Paris Beauty Suite. Then, on to the actual swag. Bottles of Chambord Liquer and Chambord Flavored Vodka; Invicta watches, a gift certificate for TiVo premiere and a year of free service; Yoostar2 Entertainment System Games from Yoostar; Magaschoni cashmere clothing and accessories; UPPAbaby Strollers from their VISTA smart luxury and G-series umbrella stroller line (Jennifer Love Hewitt stoked baby rumors by choosing one and posing for pics with it); FlipOut Sandals and Brazilian flip flops, which both come with interchangeable ornaments; New Era Cap from the EK Collection; a year’s supply of Heineken; Level 99 Denim; a one-year complimentary membership to The Sports Club/LA; and a one-year supply of Trident Vitality gum.

The celebrities had a chance to give back, too. Working Wardrobes, which helps provide new clothes to at-risk men, women and young adults, asked A-listers to donate some of their old threads to be put up for auction. Neil Patrick Harris, Rachel Bilson and Miranda Lambert were among those who turned in some awards-show fashions for the charity.

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James Franco isn't just hosting the Oscars, he's hosting what is becoming the most exclusive party of the week.

After the show Sunday, and after the Governor's Ball and the Vanity Fair party, a select few will be invited to Supper Club Los Angeles. Guests aren't expected to begin arriving until about 4 a.m., according to one person involved with the top-secret plans. "Expect military-grade security," said the planner. The source also said that the cuisine will be geared toward breakfast -- fitting, as guests are expected to be there still when the sun comes up.

The rival party at that hour: Madonna and Demi Moore's annual Oscar party at the home of music mogul Guy Oseary.

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At one point in my life, Oscar night meant nothing more than settling in on the couch, watching the red carpet and calling friends about fashion missteps and award show surprises. Even then, when there was nothing on the line, I was hesitant to make extensive predictions about winners. No Oscars pool for me! A printable ballot? A waste of paper, thank you very much. Part of the fun of the night was changing my mind right up until the envelope was opened, and "predicting" anything stripped me of that unalienable right.

Fast forward, and now I have no choice. So I offer up to you, my best Oscar guesses. This is where my thoughts are at this exact moment in time, and I can make no promises that there might not be a switch or two come Sunday. Take a gander, let me know what you think in the comments.

Best Picture: "The King’s Speech."

Best Actor: Colin Firth. (If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. It’s his time!)

Supporting Actor: Geoffrey Rush. (He’s just so Oscar-ly.)

Best Actress:The best campaign out there has been for Annette Bening, and I’m going with her, too.

Supporting Actress: This is a tough category. I do think Melissa Leo’s glitzy ad campaign detracted from how good she really is, so she’s out. My best guess: a “surprise” winner in Jacki Weaver, from “Animal Kingdom.”

Director: Tom Hooper, “The King’s Speech.”

Writing, adapted screenplay: Aaron Sorkin,“The Social Network.”

Animated Feature: "Toy Story 3."

Documentary: “Inside Job.”

Foreign language:“Biutiful.”

Music, original score: “The King’s Speech.”

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Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Preparations continue Thursday at the Kodak Theater for Sunday night's Academy Awards, but around Hollywood the party spirit is already in swing.

There's not going to be much rest to be had for those most devoted to the Oscar party circuit. Although there's been a smattering of events throughout the early part of the week, Thursday night is when things really ramp up.

For starters, James Franco gets to show off his artistic side at the opening of his and Gus van Sant's new exhibition "Unfinished" at the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills. The project features two films, "Endless Idaho" and "My Own Private River," which are collaborations based on van Sant's film "My Own Private Idaho" starring River Phoenix. Gagosian is a fairly intimate space, so this is a tougher ticket to get.

Speaking of exclusive guest lists: there's a private dinner honoring Michelle Williams at the Chateau Marmot and a party at Soho house honoring Javier Bardem and Jennifer Lawrence.

The party with the most diverse guest list, however, is the Hollywood Domino party. Event organizers expect Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Saldana, Malin Akerman, Kellan Lutz, Odette Yustman, Ryan Phillippe, Matthew Rhys, Dave Annable, Molly Sims, Camilla Belle, Kate Hudson, Mark Salling, Jennifer Morrison, Seth MacFarlane and Amaury Nolasco --to name a few -- to all be there.

Keep checking back with Scoop for more party updates!

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The Weinstein Co.

"King's Speech" star Colin Firth should have plenty of reason to crack a smile Sunday night.

When Sunday rolls around, the films and actors that seem to be locks for awards might have a rude awakening, but until then, there seems to be a clear winner, if confidence counts.

Based on buzz on the ground, "The King's Speech" seems to be poised for a sweep. Best picture, best actor (Colin Firth), best supporting actor (Geoffrey Rush), best director (Tom Hooper), even best score -- the film is considered a good bet for multiple wins. "It's not even just the talk about it being Colin's time," said one key member of the production team, "it's also about the work that Harvey Weinstein (the film's producer) did to get the Academy members to accept it. They love it." 

So there are no worries about a "Social Network" upset? "The only category where there's a big question is for best director, but I think that Tom really did the better work," said the (obviously biased) source. 

Bias aside, the general feeling here in Los Angeles is that the academy will tip toward "The King's Speech." As one person in the industry said, "the Facebook thing is just too foreign for them. They're going to go with what feels like an Oscar film, and that's 'King's Speech.'"

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Distinctive Assets

Among the perks of being an Oscar nominee: being a recipient of many, many gift bags and various and sundry freebies. Among them, this gem, worth $75,000, which will be delivered to non-winning nominees the morning after the show. Some of the items you'll find in this "Everybody Wins at the Oscars" gift bag:

Blu Cigs special edition electronic cigarettes, The Kim Kardashian Signature Watch Collection by The Brissmor Company, Huntley Drive Fitness personal training packages, Virgin Galactic limited edition sub-orbital space craft scale model, Lalo Fitness, notebook and Persian medallion from Shokoufeh Malekkiani benefiting the United Nations World Food Programme in Iran, a $5,000 all-inclusive week-long fitness retreat from Live In Fitness Enterprise, $12,000 Belize getaway at Cayo Espanto -- a private island, and a $16,000 all-inclusive getaway to Huvafen Fushi luxury resort in the Maldives compliments of Premier Tours.

Hey Scoop fans ... and movie fans! Have Oscars questions? Want to weigh in on who you really want (or don't want) to see win? Then by all means, chat with me LIVE today! I'll be online at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT.

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