Well, I guess Martin was available after all. And he’s going to have company.
The Academy has announced this year’s Oscar emcee, and as expected, it’s a pair: Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, stars of “It’s Complicated” and one person removed from the suggestion our own Guy Lodge made last month. Lodge proposed Tina Fey alongside Martin. Academy producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic opted instead for Fey’s “30 Rock” co-star Alec Baldwin.
The quoted portion of the press release:
“We think the team of Steve and Alec are the perfect pair of hosts for the Oscars,” said Shankman and Mechanic. “Steve will bring the experience of having hosted the show in the past and Alec will be a completely fresh personality for this event.”
“I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy Alec Baldwin,” said Martin.
“I don’t play the banjo but I’m thrilled to be hosting the Oscars – it’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Baldwin.
And that’s that. Thoughts? I find myself completely thrilled.
Comments
42 responses to “Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin tapped to host the 82nd annual Academy Awards”
Hmm. Both likeable enough, I suppose.
Steve Martin – thumbs up
Alec Baldwin – Im not sure
Fey/Baldwin would have been dynamite.
Well, I got half my wish.
But I love this anyway. Baldwin’s a fascinating wildcard, and the presence of Martin guarantees some smart humour. This promises to be way more my kind of ceremony than the last one.
SO happy with this.
Shrewd marketing for both AMPAS and “It’s Complicated’.
Awesome. Pure awesome.
Martin is awesome, but I’m not sold on Baldwin.
thats pretty awesome, sounds like alot of fun, and ya Its Complicated certainly just made an extra few million dollars
Not so bad, but the pairing Martin-Fey was a better idea.
Still, I believe the Oscars will suck and will be longer than ever.
Yeah, the Oscars just laid a golden egg. Should be a good show. Plus, Baldwin and Martin represent some major star power that can connect both to the viewers and the Hollywood community.
ring a ding ding
Love it. Totally appropriate.
Now I’ll be watching the Oscarcast constantly hoping for some Meryl and/or Tina humour.
SNL guest appearances will, of course, be MANDATORY.
Throw in Streep and it’s Golden!!!
I love the choice.
It’s a good pick, Baldwin’s the king of comedy on tv right now and Steve Martin’s.. well, Steve Martin. I can already envision the opening number being a banjo duel/duet, and how awesome wouldn’t that be?
Might want to add Will “Jiggy” Smith to the duo.To please Loyal… of course
I love it!!
Btw… Martin and Baldwin are the two guys who have hosted SNL the most! (15 and 14 times respectively)!
That was unexpected. I would have preferred Fey, but Baldwin in a good alternative.
Great move.
I’m picturing a pre-recorded skit with Meryl Streep that will bring the house down.
I’m not a huge fan of Baldwin’s 30 Rock shtick, but Martin was my #1 choice after Jackman. Looking forward to it!
This could be the funniest Oscars I’ve personally seen.
Excellent choice. I like this better than the Martin/Fey pairing.
I’m relieved that there’s no Hugh Jackman. He’s a nice guy, but he wasn’t very funny. Not like how Steve Martin is funny.
I hope to God they abandon all the song and dance numbers they usually try to cram in. They’re so unappealing. I think it turns viewers off. Straight up wry comedy is what the show needs.
Snappy jokes keep people watching, musical theater makes them run for the hills.
Excellent choice, Baldwin is a great choice he has such great timing and is a perfect foil for Martin, who was the best Oscar host in modern times IMO.
“I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy Alec Baldwin,” said Martin.
…thats awesome! haha
Great choices I am thrilled first decison by the Academy that I completely agree with
Awesome. Should be a good show.
I believe it was Jack Donaghy who said ‘Never badmouth synergy, Lemon. It’s bigger than all of us.”
Has a host ever been nominated for an Oscar or had a movie nommed for BP when he hosted?
I mean, I know It’s Complicated is a long shot, though Baldwin perhaps less long.
Tina Fey better be on stage at least once. And Jane Krakowski should have a (fake, total Jenna) diva-off with Penelope Cruz…
Steve Martin is my hero, and Alec Baldwin is just awesome… and I agree wholeheartedly that THERE WILL BE MERYL. or at least should be.
I think they should get the whole 30 Rock cast to host.
Tracy Morgan’s line at the Golden Globes was incredible: ‘I am the new face of post-racial America. Deal with it, Cate Blanchett.’
great choice, steve is the best host i’ve seen thus far, and i love alec as an actor and personality, has a great sense of humor. thumbs up, no quarrell from me not even a lil bit.
F***ing BRILLIANT!
Steve Martin is one of the best returning emcees they could have gotten. He’s respected enough in the filmmaking world to work this crowd.
Whoever thought up Alec Baldwin deserves an honorary Oscar themselves. I know some people are really hesitant about him, but you have no idea what will be in store. Watch Lank Thompson’s I’m a Handsome Actor on SNL if you haven’t already and I think you’ll see.
Fey should do it in the future sometime. She will be great. She would be great with either Martin or Baldwin, but those 2 don’t make a shabby pair either. This is definitely the right direction.
I’m surprised and not sure what to think of it. It could be fun but aren’t they a bit too old to attract more (younger) viewers?
Honestly, screw the younger viewers. Anyone who thinks anything is suddenly going to make kids tune into the Oscars en masse is deluded. The Academy is playing to their prime audience here, which is as it should be.
Younger voters will tune in if the movies they like are nominated. If the Academy wants to pander to this demographic, it should nominate about 2 of the following movies for BP: Inglourious Basterds, Avatar, Star Trek or District 9. Naturally they won’t win but it’s just a tip of the hat.
Random thought: is Invictus the favourite to win NBR’s Best Film?
It seems to meet all the criteria: no chance of winning Best Picture, directed by Eastwood, released late in the season, inspirational subject matter, contrived.
Blake: Lank Thompson! What a terrific blast from the past. Incidentally, Steve Martin did an analogous skit with Jon Lovitz: “Get to Know Me!”
Not sure how this choice for a February/March 2010 telecast helps the box office of a December 2009 movie, but it’s still inspired: both zany and respectful.
A look at IMDb tells me that the show hasn’t offered co-hosts since 1987, and only 2 co-hosts that shared a stage since 1946. I’m looking forward to it.
Finally, my dreams will be realized!
I really like the pairing. NO doubt the live crowd will have a great time with these two.
chuck