In a terrific turn of events for Australian entertainment, unpredictable Renaissance man Russell Crowe has just been announced as the replacement for Hugh Sheridan as the host of next Wednesday's AACTA Awards - our less glamourous, much drunker homegrown answer to the Academy Awards.

Russell got the call up after Hugh Sheridan was forced to drop out due to a conflicting L.A. schedule, a serendipitous gift for the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) which, having been established just two years ago, could use the relevancy boost that a serious Hollywood asshole actor like Russell Crowe can deliver, especially compared to a second-tier Hugh best known for being not-quite-ruggedly-handsome-enough to make proper waves with his undeniable triple threat-iness).

On-screen regulars bound for the AACTAs include Hugo Weaving, Rebecca Gibney, Deborah Mailman, Lachy Hulme and Shane Jacobson. Fingers crossed that some celebrities will show up as well.

I kid, you guys! It's Australian entertainment's night of nights and will screen on Channel Ten on Wednesday, 30 January 2013.