By LOUIS B. HOBSON --

WASHINGTON -- Billy Crystal knows how Julius Caesar felt.

Like the famous Roman emperor, Crystal tried desperately to reject his rightful crown.

Crystal is set to host the Oscars on March 23. It will be his sixth time writing, performing and ad libbing for more than a billion appreciative viewers worldwide.

"Five months ago, I turned (the Academy) down flat," recalls Crystal.

"Of course I'm honored that they keep asking me but that same weekend, I have my new movie My Giant opening. I didn't think I could handle the pressure."

Gil Gates, producer of the Oscar show, was persistent.

"He told me nobody wanted to follow me. It was definitely an ego boost so I agreed to come back one more time."

Last year, Crystal set an incredible opening number precedent by working himself into clips from all five best picture nominees.

"That was a very expensive, complicate stunt. The Academy took a big chance letting me do it. It paid off handsomely for all of us but it was not a sure bet when I pitched them the idea."

Crystal admits he "wakes up every morning obsessing about how I'll work this year's best picture nominees into an opening number."

He promises one thing for certain.

"I won't come out wearing a life preserver (in honor of Titanic) and I won't strip (for The Full Monty). Other than that, anything is fair game."

Though the Oscar ceremony gives Crystal incredible exposure he is the first to admit "it's not a fun audience to play for.

"All those nominees out there are scared to death. They can't touch themselves for fear a camera will catch them. They know the cameras are roaming the audience all night long."

There is a dress rehearsal for the Oscar ceremony for the benefit of the cameramen and sound technicians.

"It's hysterical. There are all these extras playing the stars. We go through each of the categories naming a winner and the extra comes up to the stage."

The extra actually makes an acceptance speech of sorts and is given a wooden Oscar to hold.

Crystal spends the entire day of the telecast at the auditorium.

"I have gym equipment in my dressing room.

"I work out to keep my stress level down. Just before I shower and dress, I do 100 sit ups and as many push ups as I can.

"That's how I get the adrenalin pumping."

And is this really Crystal's last time as Oscar host?

"I say that every year and mean it but anything can happen when people start twisting my arm."


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