Ladies and Gentlemen, your hosts of the 2010 Academy Awards.

The hunt for a host for this year's Academy Awards broadcast has come to an end, and in a most surprising fashion: Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will co-host the ceremony.  The Comedy Examiner's got further details on the situation.  Read on to be informed, my gentle Examiner readers...

For the past month or so, there's been much speculation as to who would end up hosting this year's Oscars ceremony.  At one point, Hugh Jackman was rumored to be returning (following his faaabulous performance at last year's telecast), but he turned 'em down.  Billy Crystal was rumored to be making a return to the Kodak stage, but that seems to have fallen through, as well. 

This year's Oscar host(s)?  Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin.  According to an article over at HitFix-- the awesome entertainment news site-- Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman (producers of the ceremony) had this to say:

We think the team of Steve and Alec are the perfect pair of hosts for the Oscars," state Shankman and Mechanic in the Academy press release. "Steve will bring the experience of having hosted the show in the past and Alec will be a completely fresh personality for this event."

Future co-hosts Martin and Baldwin exchanged the following jabs at one another following the announcement:

I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy Alec Baldwin," cracks Martin.

"I don't play the banjo but I'm thrilled to be hosting the Oscars -- it's the opportunity of a lifetime," Baldwin jokes.

 

The 82nd Academy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 7, 2010 from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, and is likely to last roughly 48 hours this year following several segments being dropped from the show's usual setup (including the "Dom DeLuise Award").

"Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman might be "Dirty Old Men"-- in which we take a look at the proposed next film for stars Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson.  Go ahead and guess what the title is.

"DirecTV parody using Heath Ledger as "The Joker" to sell cable subscriptions?"-- in which we look at a recent parody video of the "Dead Celebrity Pitchman" ads that DirecTV's been running.  Funny video included!

"Letterman's ratings actually go up following his sex scandal!"-- in which we look at the recent report that found that "The Late Show" has seen its ratings rise following Dave's sex scandal.  Shocking!

(Photo: screencrave.com)