Samberg named MTV Movie Awards host

NEW YORK, March 16 (UPI) -- Andy Samberg has been named host of the 18th annual MTV Movie Awards show, to be held at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, MTV said Monday.

The prize presentation, set to premiere live on MTV May 31, will mark the "Saturday Night Live" star's debut as MTV Movie Awards show host.

"Andy's connection with the MTV audience is so strong ... it's electric," Stephen Friedman, general manager of MTV, said in a statement. "The Lonely Island's digi-shorts are genius. We can't wait to see what subversive take he'll have on our audience's favorite movies of the year. We, like Andy's many fans, are thrilled he's decided to grace MTV with his unique talent."

"I'm super excited to host the movie awards," Samberg said. "I grew up watching the show and a lot of the past hosts are heroes of mine. Plus, my friends and I were writers for the show prior to working at 'SNL,' so it will be a sweet and satisfying homecoming. I can't wait to act really important."

Previous hosts include Ben Stiller, Jimmy Fallon, Mike Myers and Justin Timberlake.

Along with his Lonely Island partners and "SNL" sketch writers and directors Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, Samberg recently released the full-length comedy album, "Incredibad."