Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin to co-host Oscars 2010

Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin will host next year's Oscar ceremony it's been announced. Not a pairing I imagine anyone could have come up with before today, but one that is kind of interesting/kind of exciting and not only that, it's kind of in the comfort zone of putting on an familiar and fitted pair of gloves (Martin) and kind of a new, rebellious sweater (Baldwin). The choice doesn't have the WOW surprise factor that Hugh Jackman's did last year, but I think it's still an experimental step in the right direction for the Academy. One would presume that Martin and Baldwin will play at hating each other, and trying to win the one up-manship all night long with dry, witty and to the bone insults. My only concern when people were pitching the name Steve Martin during the suggestions phase was a question a friend put to me a few years ago (sadly it's still relevant)... when was the last time he made you laugh? When was the last time Steve Martin was funny? Think about it for a second or two. It's kind of scary to think how far back it was. It's the first time more than one person has hosted the Oscars since 1986 surprisingly, despite the obvious advantages of having duel hosts. Mainly the mixing it up factor because with a bad host (Ellen DeGeneres in 2007), the already mostly tedious four hour show becomes a clock-watching chore. Like visiting your Grandparents on Christmas Day when all you really wanna do is play with your new Transformer toy. Martin has hosted the ceremony a couple of times before but it's a first time out for Baldwin, though his stints hosting Saturday Night Live are pedigree enough to know he has great humour for this. According to Nikki Finke... were the third choice for the gig. They originally wanted Hugh Jackman to return but as we reported last week he turned them down (he will probably host next year's) and then the offer went to Robert Downey Jr and Ben Stiller as a duo but they both turned it down also.