FOX, the only network without a late-night presence to pimp in the telecast, has tapped one of its primetime regulars to host the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, September 20, 2015.
The network announced on Thursday (March 12) that “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star Andy Samberg will host the 2015 Emmy Awards.
While the other networks have often used the Emmys telecast to position late-night favorites like Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien for primetime audiences, FOX has given the gig to Jane Lynch and Ryan Seacrest in recent years.
Samberg seems excited, at least insofar as one can convey excitement in a press release.
“Buckle your seat belts, Emmy viewers!,” Samberg blurbs. “Like, in general you should buckle your seat belts in your car. In fact, even if you”re not an Emmy viewer, you should buckle your seat belt. It can be dangerous on the road. Also, if you”re not an Emmy viewer, you should strongly consider becoming one this year, because I”m hosting, and it”s gonna be a wild ride. So buckle your seat belts.”
Credit to the “Saturday Night Live” veteran for imparting an important life lesson as well.
While not quite as seasoned a host as Neil Patrick Harris, who has MCed the past two times CBS aired the Emmys, Samberg has certainly paid his hosting dues, overseeing the 2009 MTV Movie Awards and the 2013 Independent Spirit Awards. HitFix's award guru Gregory Ellwood is on the record raving about Samberg's improvement as a host between those two gigs.
Samberg has also hosted “Saturday Night Live,” but that doesn't count.
In addition, Samberg is an Emmy winner as part of the team behind “Dick in a Box.”
“The moment the Emmy Awards” host was brought up, we said it had to be Andy,” state Gary Newman and Dana Walden, Chairmen and CEOs, Fox Television Group. “He is fearless, hilarious, an award-winning comedian, singer, writer and actor with incredible live TV experience. We know he”ll deliver the laughs and give viewers an incredible night they will enjoy.”
And TV Academy Chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum agrees, declaring, “It”s wonderfully fitting that we have Andy Samberg, an Emmy Award winner himself, as our host for this year's Primetime Emmy Awards. Andy has excelled in all aspects of the television universe, both from behind and in front of the camera. His humor, insights and charisma will be an exciting addition to our annual celebration of television”s best and brightest.”
After last year's detour into both August and onto a Monday night, the Emmys will be back on their normal schedule from the Nokia Theatre on the eve of the 2015-2016 TV season.
For those of you who like to obsess about such things, nominations for the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced on Thursday, July 16.
The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be held on Saturday, September 12 and will air at some point on FXX.
FOX has yet to announce producers for the Emmy Awards, but if the network is eager for a bloated show with lots of musical numbers, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are available.
[I would make the much more genuine suggestion that while Don Mischer will inevitably get the job, because he always gets the job, FOX might want to see if Mischer would be willing to work with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller on the production.]
So are you pumped to see what Andy Samberg has in store as Emmy host?