At one point, Sacha Baron Cohen was being considered to host this year's Oscars but was deemed too unpredictable to get the gig. Now we have word that he's also been dropped as a presenter for fear that he might offend James Cameron.Cohen's plan was to take the stage dressed as a pregnant Na'vi who would accost the director Maury Povich-style about the bun he had squirted into her oven. Show co-producer Bill Mechanic knows Cameron pretty well and vetoed the sketch because he was worried the director would be incensed enough to walk out on live television.What's the big deal? It's a goofy sketch for an awards show produced by a guy who knows the lyrics to Miley Cyrus songs. Why take it so seriously? It's not like Cohen was going to position his taint on Cameron's chin. Bill Mechanic must really think so little of James Cameron. You hear that, Cameron? Bill Mechanic intimated that you're a bitch. FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! (Vulture)

The Simpsons just aired their 450th episode to celebrate 20 years of avoiding the network ax, but there’s still plenty more exciting things to come in Springfield. Al Jean, showrunner for 18 of the 20 years of The Simpsons (he only left to run The Critic for two short-lived seasons), told us about some exciting Simpsons events and guest stars coming up.“January 31st we have an episode where one of our fans created a character,” Jean said over drinks at the Fox party during the Television Critics Association winter press tour. “So that character debuts in that episode. Coming up we have Sarah Silverman in an episode. We have Sacha Baron Cohen playing an Israeli tour guide. We just recorded Jon Hamm today [Jan. 11] for an episode that airs in December.”More about the season finale after the jump.

Paramount must realize the colossal turkey they have on their hands with G.I. Joe because now they're trying a new marketing approach… targeting dummies. A few weeks ago they directed their efforts on the Jersey Shore , now the LA Times is reporting that the advertising is focusing heavily on mid-America. The film is apparently embedded in the Kid Rock concert tour and advertising on giant screens in the Mall Of America. The message of this campaign being, it is your patriotic duty to see this movie. All right, fine. I love my country so I'll see this movie. Even though the post-traumatic stress will probably leave me a shell of my former self. Do your part and click on these morning links… Sacha Baron Cohen will create a new character. (The Sun)Sam Worthington replaces Tom Cruise in The Tourist. (The Playlist)Patricia Arquette spends a night with The Living Dead. (Dread Central)The Stallone Sequel Spree continues with Cliffhanger. (/Film) In defense of Funny People. (Cinema Blend)

The MTV Movie Awards aired last night and it was largely one big advertisement for Twilight and Transformers. However, nestled amongst the whoredom was a funny moment where Marshall Mathers got a mug full of man-ass thanks to Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno. I'm not sure if this was a set-up or not but it really does seem like Slim Shady was not looped in on the stunt. Check out the video over at /Film to draw your own conclusion. And here's some more Hollywood happenings…The Fallen revealed. (io9)Anchorman 2 not happening yet. (HitFix) Brittany Murphy grows increasingly irrelevant. (The Playlist) Ghostbusters Is Hiring. (Sony) Piranha behind the scenes pics are gory. (Dread Central)