Billy Crystal knew the time was right for him to return as the host of the Oscars when Anne Hathaway and James Franco failed to comment on Best Supporting Actress winner Melissa Leo's swear word gaffe last year.
 
Leo became the censors' worst nightmare when she uttered the 'F' word during her acceptance speech a year ago, and funnyman Crystal was dumbfounded when co-hosts Hathaway and Franco failed to mention it immediately afterwards.
 
The actor who will return as the Academy Awards shepherd on Sunday, tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, "They didn't say a word! That's when I knew maybe I should come back. It's fun to be out there when moments like that happen.
 
"You really have to want to be up there (onstage) and those who haven't you could tell they really didn't embrace it the way you have to."
 
Crystal, who received a standing ovation at the Oscars last year when he stepped onstage to present a tribute to legendary entertainer and fellow Academy Awards host Bob Hope, agreed to lead the 2012 ceremony and telecast when Eddie Murphy dropped out as host late last year.