Here’s some fun news for today: Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will co-host the Oscars on March 7, 2010 on ABC. The 82nd Academy Awards will be held at the Kodak Theater at Hollywood and Highland Centre.

Producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic had this canned response in the press release that landed in my inbox: “We think the team of Steve and Alec are the perfect pair of hosts for the Oscars. Steve will bring the experience of having hosted the show in the past and Alec will be a completely fresh personality for this event.”

The co-hosts had less formal responses:

Martin: “I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy, Alec Baldwin.”

Baldwin: “I don’t play the banjo, but I’m thrilled to be hosting the Oscars. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Martin’s got some creds with the show, having hosted the 73rd and 75th Academy Awards shows, earning an Emmy nomination for the first stint. Of course, he’s also presented several times, most recently with Tina Fey — Baldwin’s co-star on “30 Rock.”

See? Told you it’d be fun! Can’t wait for the show — and especially the buzz building up to the show. I’m sure we’ll see Clooney there, hopefully not sporting a cast of any sort.

Image: Bauer-Griffin

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The studio specializes in offbeat films like “Juno,”  “The Darjeeling Limited,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” and “The Wrestler,” and it’s heartening to think that Fox Searchlight films have been nominated for at least five Oscars in each of the past three years, including a best picture nom for all of them.

I say heartening because I always appreciate when the less mainstream films – the quirkier, more character driven films — earn audience kudos. It means that we really do want thinking-person films that are rich in story and overall production, rather than the slam-it-out commercial movies that populate theaters in droves.

But will Fox Searchlight take that journey up to the awards podium this year? As Zeitchik suggests, the studio has a good shot at picking up awards for writing and acting for “(500) Days of Summer,” the offbeat romantic comedy about a woman (Zooey Deschanel) who doesn’t believe true love exists, and the guy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who falls for her. It’s just the sort of film people love (watch the trailer here).

More after the jump, including the “Amelia” trailer…

Another Fox Searchlight film garnering buzz is “Amelia,” the Mira Nair directed biopic about legendary pilot Amelia Earhart starring Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, and Ewan McGregor. Sure, they’ve all had some stinker films, but they also have nine Golden Globe and Oscar noms between them.

It’ll be interesting to see how Fox Searchlight shakes out this year during awards season. Take a look at the “Amelia” trailer. It really does look like a gorgeous film.

Image: TM and © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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She’s getting back into her groove after three of her family members were murdered just months ago. I can’t even imagine, but Hudson seems to be doing it with grace and strength. She is one class act.

On Oprah’s show this week, she opened up about how she’s doing, singing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, and meeting her OWN idol, Whitney Houston.

Hudson, who won an Oscar for her role in 2006’s ”Dreamgirls,” recently appeared in ”The Secret Life of Bees” and ”Sex and the City.”

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LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Actors Freida Pinto and Dev Patel arrive at the 81st Annual Academy Awards held at Kodak Theatre on February 22, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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The stars of Oscar darling “Slumdog Millionaire” have wasted no time lining up their next films.

Freida Pinto, who looked so lovely in that blue dress at the Oscars, has signed to star in Woody Allen’s next film, “Whatever Works,” along with Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins (what a lineup!). The film follows an older man’s romantic life, including his taste for younger ladies.

Meanwhile, Dev Patel, who played the main character in “Slumdog,” has signed to star as bad-guy Prince Zuko in “The Last Airbender,” taking over the role from singer Jesse McCartney. “Sixth Sense” director M. Night Shyamalan is helming this movie.

I like Pinto for the Woody Allen flick (and really, what a coup for her – actors spend their whole lives hoping for a Woody Allen film), but I’ll have to wait and see on Dev for “Airbender.” It’s such a departure from “Slumdog,” but maybe that’s a good thing.

Both stars say “Slumdog Millionaire,” which picked up eight Oscars on Sunday, say the film has blazed new trails for them. “In many ways, it’s a blessing and a start of a new life," Pinto told People.com.

Patel described the experience as “very dreamlike.” “Hopefully, I don’t wake up one day and it’s all like a big dream!”

Image: Picapp.com

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Hollyscoop.com caught up with the 2009 Oscar winners in the press room at the Kodak Theatre. Watch and see what Kate Winslet, Sean Penn, Penelope Cruz, Danny Boyle and Heath Ledger’s family had to say:

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Sean Penn is no stranger to voicing his opinion, but is a movie awards show the place to do it? I guess if an actor is really opinionated, he or she will use that moment in front of millions to try and sway the world towards their way of thinking. Watch Penn’s acceptance speech here.

Penn’s speech also brought attention to a new Web site targeting left-wing bias in Hollywood, launched by Washington Times columnist Andrew Breitbart. He live-blogged the Oscars on Sunday, and much of the reader vitriol was directed at Penn – things like "Sean Penn makes me puke in my mouth. … The Academy punished Mickey [Rourke] for his gratitude towards President Bush for keeping our country safe from Islamo-facist terrorism. Instead, it chose to award its biggest donkey, Sean Penn."

I appreciate Penn’s stance on gay marriage, tolerance and acceptance, but sometimes I think movie stars go a little too far when they get in front of a microphone. Plus, he mentioned how great it was that the country elected such an "elegant" president, but isn’t President Obama against gay marriage?

What do you think? Should we care what the stars think? Are you ok with them voicing their opinions on issues and politics?

Image: Russ Einhorn / Splash News

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E! caught up with High School Musical’s Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, who dished about how nerve-wracking their Oscar duet was, and what it was like being on stage with host Hugh Jackman. These two are such a cute couple. I hope they stay together for a while.

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I also thought it was funny when he said, "I want to make it clear that I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me." Yeah, probably not the easiest guy to like!

Watch the video of Sean Penn and see what you think. Any thoughts?

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I just felt like this was a really sweet, intimate moment between Kate and her dad that we got to be a part of. And I kept hoping Kate would just breathe for a second. I was so afraid she would pass out up there!

For more Film Gecko Oscar coverage: Live-Blog; Heath Ledger’s family accepts award; Ben Stiller does Joaquin Phoenix; Photos; Winners; Recap; Red Carpet Fashions.

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For more Film Gecko Oscar coverage: Live-Blog; Heath Ledger’s family accepts award; Photos; Winners; Recap; Red Carpet Fashions. 

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