Here he comes: Mario Lopez is Miss America's host.

The 36-year-old Extra gabber and former Dancing with the Stars contestant will again serve as emcee at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Jan. 30. The former Saved by the Bell actor also hosted in 2007 and '09. The pageant will feature 53 beauties, including Miss Puerto Rico, who returns after a 50-year absence. Katie Stam of Indiana currently holds the title.

• Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will anchor things at the 82nd Academy Awards on March 7 at the Kodak Theatre.

Good choice, we think. Martin was already cracking jokes, saying he was ``happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy.''

HEALTH WOES?

We're hoping the National Enquirer is off base on this one. The tabloid is reporting that Penny Marshall has brain and liver cancer.

Their sources say the Laverne & Shirley star-turned-director, 66, fell ill after a flight from Los Angeles to New York to see the World Series. Marshall reportedly underwent brain surgery Oct. 30.

Her agent denies it, saying she was set to watch the big game Wednesday night.

DOWN TO THE WIRE

Michael Irvin and Mark Dacascos were booted from the Dancing with the Stars ballroom Tuesday.

Irwin finished his run on the ABC show with his highest score of the season: 23 points out of 30 for his fox-trot with Anna Demidova on Monday. Dacascos collected a paltry 19 points for his misguided samba the same night with a sub partner (his usual pro, Lacey Schwimmer, was felled by the flu). Schwimmer was back for Tuesday's episode, when the couple danced-off against Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff. The Iron Chef America host's trick-filled cha-cha earned praise from the judges, but Carter's jive was more impressive.

`UNIQUE' RELATIONSHIP

Hollywood's biggest are-they-or-aren't-they-a-couple are looking pretty coupley in next month's Harper's Bazaar.

The cover story features Twilight/New Moon stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. While the on-screen couple remain coy bout their rumored real-life romance, they definitely at least like each other. Pattinson, 23, called Stewart, 19, ``a unique girl'' in the interview.

Not the most romantic term we've heard, but give him a break -- the dude's British.

Stewart has nicknamed her handsome co-star Flippy, ``because when he does his stunt rehearsals, he flips around [like a penguin].''

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