Jessica Alba wants to be funny at MTV awards

Actress Jessica Alba, wearing a wig, poses for a portrait while on set filming a segment for the upcoming 2006 MTV Video Music Awards in Santa Clarita, Calif. on Saturday, May 27, 2006. Alba, ubiquitous in magazine 'sexy' polls, hopes to show fans a different side of herself when she hosts the MTV awards, which will be handed out June 3 and air June 8. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

NEW YORK - Jessica Alba, ubiquitous in magazine "sexy" polls, hopes to show fans a different side of herself when she hosts the MTV Movie Awards this week.

The 25-year-old actress intends to be funny at the awards show, which will take place Saturday night at Sony Picture Studios in Culver City, Calif. and air June 8 (9 p.m. EDT).

Comedy is the show's theme, with "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" and "Wedding Crashers" leading the nominees with five each.

Alba will perform Billy Crystal-style parodies of the big films of the past year. Exactly which movies she won't say, but one can suspect a more appealing version of "Brokeback Mountain."

Aside from hosting, she is also nominated for three golden popcorn trophies — sexiest performance for "Sin City" and best hero and best on-screen team with Michael Chiklis, Chris Evans and Ioan Gruffudd for "Fantastic Four."

Promotions for the MTV Movie Awards have already begun showcasing less-known aspects of Alba — that she plays golf, does Tao Bo and loves to cook.

In a recent interview, Alba — frequently confined to the two-dimensional world of comic-book movies — says she's looking forward to the freedom of the open stage.