Oscar Watch: Odds Are Not With Neil Patrick Harris

Vegas says old-favorite Billy Crystal's the new favorite to host next Academy Awards

By Joal Ryan Nov 01, 2009 5:00 PMTags
Neil Patrick HarrisMonty Brinton/CBS

Hugh Jackman's out. Ricky Gervais is taken. Neil Patrick Harris is moving up the Academy Awards' invite list.

Not so fast on that last one.

On Friday, we asked Las Vegas' own Oscar handicapper Johnny Avello for his take on who'll be the awards show's next host. Avello, director of sports race and sports operations for the Wynn and Encore hotels, kindly complied with a hot-off-the-presses line.

When we first took a look, we were surprised. And not because the favorite of favorites is a dark horse. Because it—or rather, he—isn't. At all. Let's just say if Avello's right, your next Oscars telecast is going to be a blast from the past.

And not a blast from the Emmys by way of the Tonys. (Sorry, NPH.)