Billy Crystal is back tonight as host of the Academy Awards, a responsibility he’s had eight

Billy Crystal is back tonight as host of the Academy Awards, a responsibility he’s had eight times before. By now, the 63-year-old comedian is a pro at this — a reliable, familiar choice who’s beloved and admired by his peers. And he’s achieved that status in this business through his many indelible comic roles. Here are five of his best.

v “When Harry Met Sally ...” (1989): Easily the best performance of Crystal’s career. Everyone involved here is at the height of his or her powers: Meg Ryan, director Rob Reiner, writer Nora Ephron.

v “Monsters Inc.” (2001): One of the greatest Pixar films, and Crystal has a delightful interplay with John Goodman as a couple of monsters who inadvertently befriend a little girl they’re supposed to frighten.

v “The Princess Bride” (1987): This fairy tale has a strong ensemble cast full of great, memorable performances, including Crystal’s as Miracle Max, the disgruntled former employee of the evil Prince Humperdinck who creates a magical pill that brings the swashbuckling hero Westley back to life.

v “Throw Momma From the Train” (1987): In Danny DeVito’s directing debut, he and Crystal co-star as two guys with nothing in common but the desire to have someone killed, so they agree to swap murders to avoid suspicion.

v “Soap” (1977-81): In this nighttime parody of daytime soap operas, Crystal played Jodie Dallas, an openly gay character functioning as a major figure on network television, a rarity at the time.

“Cupcake wars” (8 p.m., food network): On “Cupcake Wars,” the bakers whip up scary treats for the Screamfest horror film festival in Los Angeles, which confounds us because the only scary thing about cupcakes is the calorie count.

“THE 84TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS” (8:30 P.M., ABC): It’s Billy Crystal to the rescue. The genial comedian returns to host the Oscar telecast, stepping in for Eddie Murphy, who flaked out back in November. It will be Crystal’s ninth time as emcee (second only to Bob Hope’s 19), but his first in nearly a decade. So expect a return of his popular opening monologue where he inserts himself into scenes of the nominated movies. As for the films themselves, it’s shaping up to be a big night for “The Artist,” a delightful production that proved you don’t have to talk a lot to make a good impression.

“the walking dead” (9 p.m., amc): The tension between Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Shane (Jon Bernthal) continues to escalate on “The Walking Dead.” Meanwhile, the show continues to explore new and icky ways to kill off zombies.

tv listings: B8

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Ky. Headhunters in local concert

STRUTHERS

Grammy winning band The Kentucky Headhunters will perform at Brownstone Court, 50 Struthers-Coitsville Road (Route 616, just south of U.S. Route 422), on March 2. Opening acts will include Twelve Gauge Justice from New Castle, Pa.; Everyday Americans and the James Everett Band.

Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $25.

For more information, call 330-755-2865.