Andrea Martin backs out of Genie Awards

SCTV star Andrea Martin has backed out of hosting the Genie Awards, the annual prizes for the best in Canadian film, citing another commitment.

CBC confirmed the actress, also famous for her role in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, had cancelled on Wednesday, a day ahead of the ceremony in Toronto.

She was due to share the hosting duties with CBC talk-show personality George Stroumboulopoulos. Martin had a prior commitment that got rescheduled and required her immediate participation, she said.

She will be making "special appearances" in pretaped segments of the show. Martin issued a statement, apologizing about the change of plans.

"I'm so disappointed that I can't co-host the Genies with my friend George Stroumboulopoulos as planned," she said in the statement.

"I was in Toronto, in my fabulous Lucian Matis gown, rehearsing …and I got a call about a prior work commitment that has been rescheduled and that I am obligated to show up for. You’ll still see me in the show, and I will be there in spirit to support all the extraordinary artists in the Canadian film industry who we will be honouring and celebrating tomorrow night."

Martin is booked to appear in the pilot of a new CBS comedy about a single 37-year-old (Ben Falcone) who loses everything he has in the real estate collapse and finds himself back home in the house he grew up in with his parents. Martin plays his mother.

Martin's manager Perry Zimel confirmed she had to travel to Los Angeles on Wednesday for a Thursday shoot of the pilot for the new TV comedy. 

CBC Live will livestream the Genie Awards red carpet from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by the non-televised portion of the awards gala from 6 to 6.45 p.m. ET. The awards gala will be broadcast on CBC-TV from 8 p.m. (8.30 p.m. NT).