The world chooses Betty

The Internet has gotten its way: Betty White will host “Saturday Night Live.”

NBC said Thursday that the 88-year-old actress will host the show May 8. “SNL” executive producer Lorne Michaels says he can’t think of a better way to spend Mother’s Day weekend than with White.

The announcement followed a campaign on Facebook urging the sketch show to make White a host. The group attracted nearly half-a-million supporters.

Hoop dream

Jennifer Hudson will have her “One Shining Moment.”

The Grammy and Oscar winner will perform the song that plays each year at the end of the CBS broadcast of the NCAA men’s basketball championship game.

The network said Tuesday that Hudson will be the first woman to sing it. Teddy Pendergrass and Luther Vandross have performed previous renditions.

The tune by folk singer David Barrett has been a March Madness staple since 1987, played over highlights of the tournament.

De Niro channels Lombardi

Robert De Niro is set to play Vince Lombardi in an upcoming movie.

ESPN announced Tuesday that the Academy Award-winning actor has agreed to play the Hall of Fame coach in the film it is developing with Andell Entertainment and the NFL.

“Lombardi” will chronicle the years in which he transformed the Green Bay Packers from the NFL’s worst team to league champions. It is tentatively scheduled to be released in 2012 during the weekend between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl.

The birthday bunch

Songwriter Mike Stoller is 77. Neil Sedaka is 71. William H. Macy is 60. Glenne Headly is 55. Dana Delaney is 54. Trumpeter Terence Blanchard is 48.