Baron Cohen Ousted From Oscars Again

Sasha Baron Cohen had been the first choice of Oscar producers to host the ABC-televised ceremony but was dropped following objections by the motion picture academy. Now he has been dropped as an Oscar presenter. Baron Cohen had been set to appear with Ben Stiller onstage dressed as a blue-skinned, female Na’vi from “Avatar.” Stiller was to have been “her” translator. The script called for her to grow increasingly upset, finally ripping open her costume to reveal a pregnant belly and accuse “Avatar” director James Cameron of knocking her up during the filming. The bit was nixed at the last moment by co-producer Bill Mechanic, who feared it would offend Cameron.