NY Bloger

Oscars hosts Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin had the celebrity-packed audience laughing out loud – even though most of their gags were aimed at the stars themselves.

A glaring George Clooney seemed to be off-limits – but only as part of a joke that they were too scared to make fun of him.

Baldwin and Martin began by goading Best Actress nominee Meryl Streep. Martin said: “She holds the record for most nominations by an actress. Or as I like to think of it, most losses.”

He added: “Everyone who has worked with that woman says the same thing – can that woman act and what’s with all the Nazi memorabilia?”

They turned then to Helen Mirren, with Martin saying: “Look! There’s that damn Helen Mirren!”

Baldwin corrected him: “Steve, that’s Dame Helen Mirren.”

Then it was Avatar director James Cameron’s turn to be the butt of a joke as the hosts put on 3D glasses and asked: “Is that the director of Avatar, James Cameron?”

Martin added: “It’s an amazing fact that James Cameron used to be married to the director of another nominated film The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow.” Baldwin chipped in: “She was so pleased to be nominated with him she sent him a beautiful gift basket with a timer.”

Martin, poking fun at the recent safety recall by car manufacturer Toyota, added: “And he reciprocated by sending her a Toyota.”

Both Bigelow and Cameron laughed along with the joke, just like the rest of the hosts’ targets.

Source: Splash News