Comic actor Steve Martin will host the 75th Anniversary Academy Awards, said the producer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in a Thursday telecast "The 75th Anniversary show is a meaningful one for the Academy, and it is wonderful to work with a host who's done it before," said producer Gil Cates. "A host who's witty, clever, sharp, intelligent, quick on his feet and always on top of the unfolding action. Wait, I've forgotten something. Oh yeah, and outrageously funny "He's also a gentleman, a gentle man and a delight to work with," Cates added This will be Martin's second appearance as Oscar host. He first served as ringleader of the live broadcast in March 2001 for the 73rd Academy Awards. In addition, Martin has served as a presenter on six shows and introduced a Best Picture clip on the 69th telecast in 1997. He also participated in a gag film sequence for the 67th show in 1995. The 75th live broadcast is set for March 23, 2003 "I'm very pleased to be hosting the Oscars again, because fear and nausea always make me lose weight," Martin said in a statement Martin recently completed filming the Disney comedy "Bringing Down the House," with co-stars Queen Latifah and Eugene Levy. The film is due out this spring. He begins "Shopgirl," which he adapted for the screen from his own best-selling novella, in January. Along with Martin, the film will star Claire Danes and Jimmy Fallon, under the direction of Anand Tucker. Martin's next novel, "The Pleasure of My Company," will be published next fall by Hyperion
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