Nov 4 2009Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin Hosting the Oscars

The Academy hasn't been having an easy time giving away the Oscars Ceremony hosting duties. Ignoring Billy Crystal's face desperately, expectantly pushed against their window, they pulled the blinds and asked Hugh Jackman to return to do more singing and dancing. He said no. The Academy tried Ben Stiller and Robert Downey, Jr. But, alas, they said, "What, because we were in a movie together a year-and-a-half ago? No. It's not like we're known as some kind of comedy team." (At this point, through the glass, came a muffled, "Me and Whoopi and Robin are sort of a team, though! If you remember Comic Relief!")

With the Academy on the verge of breakdown and ready to just call the whole thing off and publicly admit that the Oscars are pointless and terrible regardless of who hosts: a breakthrough. One of the Academy members suddenly noticed the [list of most frequent SNL hosts/poster for the Meryl Streep comedy It's Complicated] on the table. And it was settled:

There will be two hosts for the 82nd annual Academy Awards -- Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin -- the first time the show has had multiple hosts since the 1987 ceremonies.

Almost immediately after Tuesday's announcement, insiders began speculating that Tina Fey -- who presented with Martin at the most recent Oscarcast and co-stars with Baldwin on "30 Rock" -- will join the team as one of its key writers. The show will air live March 7 on ABC.

Maybe they can trade off every couple hours. Or whenever our eardrums get numb to the sound of banjo.