To say that it's already been a whirlwind year for star couple Michael McKean and Annette O'Toole on the career front is a mighty understatement.

January brought the married songwriters an Oscar nomination for one of their songs from the Christopher Guest comedy-style documentary "A Mighty Wind" and earlier this month, McKean won a Grammy as co-writer of "A Mighty Wind" and was cast as Harvey Fierstein's replacement in the Broadway smash "Hairspray."

McKean and O'Toole's Oscar nomination is for the wistful love song "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow," performed by Mitch & Mickey (Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara) in the film.

As anybody familiar with Guest's films would know, the characters in "A Mighty Wind" feel real.

Because of that, the song will have surrealistic feel on Oscar night, because much like the concerts of spawned from "This is Spinal Tap," "A Mighty Wind" will take on a life of its own beyond the screen. That's because McKean and O'Toole told me in an @ The Movies interview Friday that Levy and O'Hara will perform the song at the Oscars -- in character as Mitch & Mickey.

"That's the right way to do it," O'Toole explained. "The song is nominated because of how it's used in the movie. To get them to sing it at the Oscars is absolutely perfect and the way it should be."

And, that also means McKean and O'Toole don't have the pressure of performing onstage themselves.

"We don't have to get stressed out," she added with a laugh. "We can just sit there and enjoy it."

Playing the song in public is nothing new for Levy and O'Hara, given the fact that they along with McKean, Guest and several other cast members reassembled the three folk groups from "A Mighty Wind" to do quick concert swings through the East and West Coasts last fall.

But this time around, Mitch & Mickey are playing to a slightly bigger crowd.

"It's funny, Eugene has this kind of 'condemned look' on his face these days -- but he's smiling, though," McKean chuckled. "It's a complex emotion to know that you're going to perform in front of a billion people."

O'Toole did point out, though, that playing in character does have its advantages.

"He's has the character to hide behind, who is a deer-in-the-headlights anyway," she said.

The next big question is, like in "A Mighty Wind," will there be a kiss at the end of the rainbow?

"I think it's going to be a surprise," O'Toole said. "I'm actually more interested in Catherine's autoharp playing. She told me that they have to get the song's time down to 2 minutes and 20 seconds and the song is 2 minutes and 32 seconds.

"She said, 'I think I'm going to have to cut my autoharp solo, but it sounds just fine' -- she was passing this all by me and I'm just sitting here thrilled that she's doing it."

Being Edna Turnblad
While McKean and O'Toole won't be performing themselves on Oscar night, McKean is going to have to get use to taking the stage and then some in May when he assumes Harvey Fierstein's Tony Award-winning role in "Hairspray."

A master of improvisation, McKean told me it's unlikely he'll be adding unscripted material -- ala "This is Spinal Tap," "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind" -- when he steps into the plus-sized dress and shoes of Edna Turnblad.

"The show works pretty damn well right, so it's not like I have any ideas about how to shake things up -- it's already been shook," McKean explained. "('Hairspray' director) Jack O'Brien, who is probably the best director on the Broadway stage as well as the San Diego stage, has really crafted something that works."

Fierstein (pictured, right) will give his final curtain call as Edna May 2 and McKean will start May 4. The two actors have already made acquaintances -- backstage after a "Hairspray" show, no less -- where Fierstein gave McKean his blessing.

"I went to see Harvey the day before show the day before my audition and I just felt like staying home the next day," McKean mused. "He was so amazing. He's an extremely funny man and obviously owns the part. We had never met before I went backstage. He put his arms around me and said, (impersonating Fierstein's trademark gravely voice) 'You know, you're the Great White Hope,' and I'm like, 'I don't know what that means. Just show me the body suit' -- and he did."

Joking aside, McKean said Fierstein gave him some welcome and comforting news about the cast and crew he's about to work with.

"He said, 'Look the only thing that you gotta remember is that this is a functional family in the story -- they're all mensches -- they're all strong, good people,'" McKean recalled. "He didn't have to tell me that because you can see it in his performance. So, I'll try and measure up to that aspect and bring my own gallant to the stage, too."

Related Links:

• Video: Movie Preview: 'A Mighty Wind'


• Audio: 'A Kiss At The End Of The Rainbow, More