Steve Martin helped get Oscar ready while on stage during his banjo tour

By Sandy Cohen, AP
Friday, March 26, 2010

Playing banjo eased Oscar stress for Steve Martin

LOS ANGELES — Steve Martin says playing the banjo helped prepare him for his Oscar-hosting gig.

The 64-year-old actor-writer-musician says performing live with the Steep Canyon Rangers made him feel comfortable on the Kodak Theatre stage at the Oscars.

Martin says he wasn’t sure why he wasn’t nervous before co-hosting the March 7 Oscars with Alec Baldwin, but a friend suggested maybe it was because he’d been in front of audiences around the country with his banjo.

Martin said in a recent interview that he “hadn’t been on stage live in front of people in a long, long time, except for this,” gesturing toward the banjo in his hand.

He’ll begin another tour with the Steep Canyon Rangers on April 19.

On the Net:

www.stevemartin.com

Discussion
March 26, 2010: 7:54 pm

Best Oscar presentation in many years. The lack of political correctness and or political cheap shots was a breath of fresh air, let’s hope it continues to be that way.
It didn’t have the funniest moment — in my book, that still goes to the streaker and David Niven’s witty response.

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