You know, honestly, I don't remember who hosted last year's Emmys? I didn't watch it, of course, but one would think that such a fact would at least hopefully remain lodged in my media-obsessed brain. Oh, it was Jane Lynch. You know what, maybe I did watch it and just forgot.
Anyway, the Academy of Television People today announced that funnyman Jimmy Kimmel will be hosting this year's entry into the long-running celebration of The Amazing Race, with Oscars producer Don Mischer handling production duties. Kimmel's no stranger to hosting duties, having hosted the ESPYs and the American Music Awards. Here's hoping that he can inject a bit of Ricky Gervais into the proceedings; he can be an enjoyable dick when he wishes to be, as when he famously destroyed Jay Leno on his own show a couple years ago. If you haven't seen that, go watch it. Go.
Here's the full press release. Excited? Dismayed? Don't care?
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel just got a prime-time gig: Host of the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards.
The star and executive producer of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will host the Emmy Awards ceremony on Sept. 23 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
"I hope to be able to do for the Emmys this year what Eddie Murphy did for the Oscars," Kimmel joked, referring to the comic actor who pulled out as host of this year's Academy Awards. This is Kimmel's first time hosting the Emmys.
Kimmel's namesake show is in its 10th season on ABC. He previously hosted the American Music Awards and the ESPY Awards and is set to host the White House Correspondents' dinner next month.
ABC also announced that director and producer Don Mischer will executive produce the Emmy telecast. Mischer recently directed and produced the Academy Awards. This is his 12th time at the helm of the Emmys.
He said he's "thrilled" to produce the Emmys again.
"We love television and look forward to working with the television academy and ABC in creating a show that is fast-paced, humorous, unpredictable, and at times irreverent, but clearly celebratory of our incredible industry," Mischer said in a statement Monday.
The Emmy Awards, put on by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, honor the best in TV.
...don't care. Sorry Jimmy, I just don't watch the Emmy's.
Don't care. I've never seen his show (does anybody even watch it anymore?). Although I'm sure he could be funny.
Without Sarah Silverman at his side, I just feel like love doesnt exist anymore. So I don't care as well
I can't even be bothered to watch the Oscars on most years, sorry Jimmy.
I'll watch it but hosting the Emmy's always seems like a forgettable gig but who know, maybe it'll be a stepping stone to the Oscars.
Not a fan of Jimmy Kimmel. Kind of hard to get over the fact that he hooked up with that unfunny ugly loser Sarah Silverman.
I will leave the Emmy's on in the background SOLELY on the basis that that video clip was one of the most awesome moments of TV douchery I've ever seen. Newfound respect for Jimmy Kimmel.
Co-host with Adam Carolla plz.
@vinsanityv22 said:
Oh man. If you want to call her unfunny and ugly, then go a ahead, that's your opinion. But when someone wrote for SNL and then Mr. Show, starred in a few of her own comedy specials, was in some movies, had tons of TV bit parts, wrote lots of essays for print, and then Starred in 3 seasons of their own TV show, calling them a "loser" just makes you look foolish.
Anyway, I think Kimmel is a funny dude, but his strength lies in interviews. His monologues are mostly just boring, so I don't think this kind of hosting job suits him at all.