'SNL' comic Samberg to host MTV Movie Awards

WENN

Saturday Night Live comic Andy Samberg has been confirmed as the host of this year's MTV Movie Awards.

Samberg, who has been a regular cast member in the NBC show for the past four years, will present the 2009 awards live from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, on May 31.

"I'm super excited to host the Movie Awards," he said in a statement. "I grew up watching the show and a lot of the past hosts are heroes of mine."

The 30-year-old comedian, who previously worked as a writer for the annual ceremony, added: "It will be a sweet and satisfying homecoming. I can't wait to act really important."

Stephen Friedman, general manager of MTV, praised Samberg's "strong" and "electric" connection with the network's audience, saying: "We can't wait to see what subversive take he'll have on our audience's favourite movies of the year.

"We, like Andy's many fans, are thrilled he's decided to grace MTV with his unique talent."

Previous hosts of the ceremony include Ben Stiller, Mike Myers, Justin Timberlake and Jack Black. Nominations for this year's categories will be announced within the next few weeks.