TORONTO - Andrea Martin has dropped out of the Genie Awards to shoot a TV pilot in Los Angeles.

The "SCTV" comic had been slated to co-host Canada's version of the Oscars on Thursday but said late Wednesday she had to pull out due to a prior commitment that had been rescheduled against the bash.

"I'm so disappointed that I can't co-host the Genies with my friend George Stroumboulopoulos as planned," Martin said in a 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 (Thursday) night."

CBC says Martin will appear in pre-taped segments.

Martin's manager Perry Zimel said the actress was travelling to Los Angeles on Wednesday for a Thursday shoot of a TV pilot co-starring Judd Hirsch.

Zimel said the two portray the parents of a down-and-out 37-year-old man, played by Ben Falcone, who moves back to his childhood home.

"She's still going to be very much a part of the actual awards," Zimel said.

"She just won't physically be on the stage."

The sudden change in plans came one day after the Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress appeared at a promotional event where she gushed over CBC personality Stroumboulopoulos, the roster of Genie nominees and her designer outfit.

"Cafe de Flore," "A Dangerous Method" and "Monsieur Lazhar" lead the Genie contenders.

Chuck Thompson, head of media relations at CBC, said the public broadcaster learned of Martin's conflict late Tuesday night.

He said producers believed the show's biggest challenge will be in tweaking an opening segment in which Stroumboulopoulos and Martin were slated to share the stage.

"Now George will just adjust accordingly given that he's doing it on his own," said Thompson.

"Given that she was co-hosting and George has such a deep background in hosting it was an easy transition to have him take over the role," Thompson added.

"When you consider that he has a nightly show and has hosted a number of other big-ticket events... he certainly has what it takes to go it solo."

Martin -- known for playing the bespectacled Edith Prickley on "SCTV" -- has recently been touring with her one-woman show "Final Days! Everything Must Go!"

Her screen credits include "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

The Genie Awards air on CBC-TV.