Andy Samberg to host MTV Movie Awards

MTV announced this week that Andy Samberg will host the MTV Movie Awards this year as he continues his customary bid to jump from Saturday Night Live to marquee stardom.

The move makes sense for MTV, since Samberg has emerged as a viral celebrity known as much for his mock music videos as his actual skits on Saturday Night Live. For Samberg, the job provides the chance to follow Jimmy Fallon, his most immediate predecessor, who also hosted MTV awards shows on the way to a hit-or-miss movie career that culminated in his new late-night gig.

As with Fallon, Samberg has had a rocky transition to the screen—Hot Rod, his most visible starring role, fizzled in 2007. He has since wisely scaled back to voice parts and a supporting role in I Love You, Man, which opens this weekend.

The MTV Movie Awards is set to air live May 31.

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