Sarah Silverman Named Host for MTV Movie Awards

Sarah Silverman has been officially named as the host for this year's upcoming MTV Movie Awards. The Awards will be broadcast live, a first for the annual ceremony. The pre-taped 2006 Movie Awards were hosted by actress Jessica Alba.

Silverman currently stars in Comedy Central's offbeat situation comedy "The Sarah Silverman Program," which features controversial storylines, including an episode in which Silverman has a one-night stand with God. The rising comic star won critical acclaim for her 2005 feature film "Jesus Is Magic," which featured clips from her edgy stand-up act, and several music video interludes. Currently, the 36-year old Silverman is romantically linked to comedian and late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.

Silverman told reporters that her preparation for the MTV broadcast involved a heavy training schedule. "I'm exercising every day, and I do ten push-ups, I do eight sit-ups, and then I rinse off. . . I want to go just a little bit too far," she quipped. The comic then jokingly compared her regimen to Linda Hamilton's training for Hamilton's muscle-bound role in "Terminator 2."

On a more serious note, Silverman said that the fact that she'll be helming the first live broadcast of the awards ceremony is "starting to sink in." She also expressed some concerns about how well her edgy, sometimes offensive humor will play out in a live broadcast situation, telling members of press "I mean, I'm not a big swearer or anything, but I still seem to say things that you can't say on basic cable, so. . . we're gonna have to have, like, a plan."

Christina Norman, the president of MTV, told reporters that she had high esteem for Silverman's "no holds barred sarcasm," and the comedienne's irreverent attitude.