Steve Martin Pens Advice Letter to Oscar Host Eddie Murphy

A year before the "Oscar host double-act" concept was killed, buried, and exorcised by the disastrous pairing of James Franco and Anne Hathaway, it was successfully pulled off by Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. With the news that this year's Academy Award hosting duties have fallen upon the shoulders of first timer Eddie Murphy, Martin is reaching out via an "open letter" offering advice to the man with whom he co-starred in the 1999 comedy "Bowfinger."

Posted on Martin's official web site, the letter acknowledges that Murphy "didn't ask for my advice," but the veteran comedian and writer continues on unabated, with tongue firmly in cheek.

"Whatever you do, don't have a co-host," writes Martin. "They're a big pain and they just end up breaking your SNL hosting record." 

Other nuggets of advice from Martin include: 

"Remember to relax and have a good time while 12,000 livebloggers rip you to shreds."

"Fortunately, only you and I can get away with smuggling out an Oscar in our pants."

"If you feel tired midway through, give Neil Patrick Harris a Red Bull and throw some sheet music at him."

Martin closes by saying that he and Murphy are "old friends" before joking that Murphy deserved a nomination for "Bowfinger." 

The 84th annual Academy Awards will be shown live on February 26, 2012.

Selected Reading: SteveMartin.com, Collider

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