Crystal Bails on Oscars, Nominates Carrey

December 6 -- We don't have a president — and now we don't have an Oscar host.

Host with the most Billy Crystal says his film career will prevent him from donning the Oscar tux for the eighth time this March.

"I can't do it, you have to understand," the wisecracking comic told Fox News this week. "If everything goes according to plan, I'll just be finishing a new movie on March 22. I can't host the show five days later."

Crystal is part of the ensemble comedy America's Sweethearts, with pretty women Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

That vacant spot on the Shrine Auditorium stage won't be filled by Whoopi Goldberg, either. The Hollywood Squares host has also passed on the high-profile gig after two previous appearances.

But Crystal has a suggestion for the Academy: "It should be Jim Carrey. They need someone associated with the movies." Of course, the Grinch star might still carry a grudge after being snubbed by the Academy for his roles in The Truman Show and Man on the Moon.

Said Crystal, "I asked [Carrey] to be part of the show last year … but [he] has some bad feelings about not being nominated. It's not like he was in a box-office flop. I mean, Kevin Costner helped us out after The Postman. It's just in good fun."

The 73rd annual Academy Awards ceremony will be held March 25.