Big news? We didn't really expect the desperate-to-be-hip "Daily Show" host to cross a picket line, but he's managed so far to dodge saying what he'd do if one stood between him and his upcoming gig on Feb. 24. MediaBistro.com reports, "A tipster has told FishbowlNY that Jon Stewart is telling insiders he will not host the Oscars unless the WGA writer's strike is settled." So, gee, doesn't it sound like the Oscarcast can turn out to be a real blast? Especially now that Gil Cates has confessed to the L.A. Times that his Top Secret Plan entails going on without other celebs ("I just hope that the actors are there — I pray that the actors are there") while filling up the telecast with old clips of past shows (finally you can decide if you believe the academy's ridiculous claim that it had no idea that a streaker would dart out behind David Niven — please note how conveniently angled the cameras were so that they didn't reveal a view of a jiggling tallywacker).

Jossip.com puts this latest news in refreshing perspective: "Jon Stewart will do a lot of things for his career, like star as the third leading male in 'Death To Smoochy.' But crossing the picket line, that is too much."

After almost killing the Oscar show all by himself the last time he flamed out as host, let's hope he has the decency to stay home even if the strike is settled. As Tom Shales of the Washington Post noted, Stewart presided "with a smug humorlessness," proving to be a sad and pale shadow of great hosts gone by." Here's a roundup of other media blasts Stewart got for a job poorly done - CLICK HERE.