SMALL PRINT:WHAT ELSE is the internet for, if not for the gathering momentum of Facebook and Twitter campaigns? The latest in a very long steamroller line is the idea of the getting the Muppets to present the Oscars.

What’s that now?

This week, Eddie Murphy (in an odd jumping-ship act of solidarity with a friend who was set to produce this year’s show but was forced to resign for homophobic comments) stepped down as host, leaving the presenter job wide open. And who better than a fuzzy felt collective of big personalities like the Muppets to take over? The overlong ceremony would be a dud if it wasn’t for humour (remember last year’s damp squib paring of James Franco and Anne Hathaway?), and by signing up the Muppets, the scope for humour would be much broader.

Think of Toy Story'sbrilliance at appealing to the child in everyone, while lobbing in just-for-parents jokes. And Statler and Waldorf would be on hand to tackle any of the darker/risqué material.

Think about it: what the Oscars (and their hugely wealthy advertisers) need is a wide demographic. There is no single host who could unite toddlers and octogenarians in a worldwide thumbs-up moment like Jim Henson’s creations. Camera shots could flit between characters, ensuring that anyone still awake after five hours can’t complain about the same old (botoxed) faces. The new Muppet movie is released outside of the US throughout 2012, so like every film star with something to plug, they could drop that in repeatedly.