Search is On for New Oscar&#174 Host after Eddie Murphy's Departure

Oscar® producers are scrambling to find a new host after Eddie Murphy dropped out in a show of solidarity with pal Brett Ratner, who was forced to resign from his role as producer. INSIDE EDITION has the latest.

Eddie Murphy quit the Oscars®, and then went shopping!

Murphy took his girlfriend on a shopping trip just hours after stepping down as Oscar® host.

The couple pulled up to a Restoration Hardware store in Beverly Hills in an awesome Rolls Royce coupe worth almost $500,000.

Murphy looked at peace, and ignored all questions.

He bailed on the Oscar® job after his buddy, director Brett Ratner, was forced to resign as producer of the show for uttering a gay slur.

Now the scramble is on to find a new host for Oscar® night at the Kodak Theatre. The Academy is said to be considering several A-listers for the job. Names like Justin Timberlake, Ben Stiller, Ellen DeGeneres, and Billy Crystal have come up.

There's also buzz that the Academy is considering an ensemble of presenters rather than just one host.

Murphy's departure was the hot topic at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York.  

"It's disappointing because he's such a brilliant comedian, but the show must go on," said Cuba Gooding Jr.

And at the Country Music Awards, Kellie Pickler said she was rooting for Ellen DeGeneres.

"Ellen's always amazing, I love Ellen. We should do it together!" she said.

INSIDE EDITION caught up with controversial Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais at the Stand Up for Heroes show in New York. He told us he's available!

"I would do it but I'd get fired halfway through!" he said.

A Hollywood Reporter poll puts Neil Patrick Harris, who has hosted the Emmys and the Tonys, as the favorite, with 28 percent of the vote. He's followed closely by Billy Crystal with 18 percent.