Dynamic And Versatile Actor Josh Duhamel To Host Nickelodeon's 26th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, Live From Los Angeles On Saturday, March 23

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Kids' Choice Awards slime recipient and "Arm Fart Hall of Fame" champ, Josh Duhamel (Transformers: Dark of the Moon, New Year's Eve  and upcoming Safe Haven) will take the reins for the first time as host of Nickelodeon's 26^th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, Saturday, March 23 (8-9:30 p.m. ET/PT).  Celebrated as the ultimate kid experience where Hollywood and slime collide, kids rule and honor their favorites from the worlds of film, music, sports and television. The celebrity-filled live telecast will air live from USC's Galen Center and is tape delayed for West Coast.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130123/NY46762 )

"Josh has come out to play before for Kids' Choice and as a previous 'best arm fart' winner we know he'll do what it takes to be a great host," said Marjorie Cohn, President, Content Development for Nickelodeon and Executive Producer of the Kids' Choice Awards. "We promise that this year will deliver the special, one-of-a-kind surprise-filled slimefest for which our annual telecast is famous."

"Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards is a great event that celebrates kids by honoring their opinions and taps into the kid in all of us," said Duhamel. "I have a lot of secret plans for when I host the awards, but I can tell you I'm excited to lead millions of kids into total crazy fun, chaos ...and, of course, endless slime!"

One of Hollywood's leading males, Duhamel recently began production on the drama You're Not You, alongside Hilary Swank and Emmy Rossum.  This month, Duhamel will be seen in the star-studded, ensemble comedy Movie 43 alongside Emma Stone, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Kate Winslet and Richard Gere, among others. In February, Duhamel will star opposite Julianne Hough in Lasse Hallstrom's Safe Haven, and the thriller Scenic Route.  Additional film credits include the romantic comedy Life as We Know It, Ramona and Beezus, When in Rome and The Romantics.  On television, Josh is best known for his role as Danny McCoy on the NBC crime drama Las Vegas. Additionally, he lent his voice to Nickelodeon's Emmy Award-winning animated series Fanboy & Chum Chum and starred in several seasons of the long-running ABC soap opera All My Children, in which he received three consecutive Daytime Emmy nominations.

Last year, Nickelodeon's 2012 Kids' Choice Awards, ranked as basic cable's top telecast for the week (March 26, 2012–April 1, 2012) with 6.2 million total viewers and was the number-one telecast for the week with kids and tweens across all TV. The celebrity filled telecast scored the most votes in the show's history—a record 223 million (+11%, over last year). Votes were cast across Nick.com, Nick's mobile site, a brand-new iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch apps, an iPad-optimized site, an application on Nick's Facebook page and via Twitter and custom hash tags.  Beginning today, Nickelodeon kicks off the 2013 Kids' Choice Awards digital experience on www.Nick.com/KCA13. Fans will be able to relive the slimiest moments from years past, play KCA-themed games, and receive updates on all things KCA. Additionally, on the day of the show, March 23, viewers can visit the site to watch a live webcast of the Kids' Choice Orange Carpet pre-show, and stay logged on during the show to see all the backstage action

The 2013 Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards will be seen in more than 350 million households around the world and in more than 25 languages. Within hours of airing live in the United States and Canada, the show will roll out internationally, providing kids around the world the opportunity to tune into their local Nickelodeon channel to enjoy the show faster than ever. In many international markets, the 2013 KCAs will feature country-specific award categories and nominees, such as Favorite Asian Act and Favorite UK TV Show. Voting for the 2013 KCAs will span over six continents across 16 localized voting sites, giving kids practically everywhere the chance to decide who takes home a coveted blimp. Ratings for the 2012 KCAs were up double-digits YOY internationally, and the show was rated #1 in its timeslot among kids channels in key international markets, including the UK, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Singapore and more.

Presenting sponsors of Nickelodeon's 26th Annual Kids' Choice Awards are General Mills, Hasbro Twister Rave Games and Target.  Associate sponsors are Bounty™, McDonald's®, nabi, Nintendo and Skechers.

Nickelodeon's 26^th Annual Kids' Choice Awards is being produced by Nickelodeon Productions in association with Bob Bain Productions.  Bob Bain, Marjorie Cohn and Paula Kaplan are Executive Producers.  Media outlets can reference the most up-to-date information on Nickelodeon's 26^th Annual Kids' Choice Awards by logging onto www.NickKCApress.com.

Nickelodeon, now in its 33rd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 18 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).

For downloadable photos and additional information visit: www.nickkcapress.com

SOURCE Nickelodeon