Seth Meyers will go from late night to prime time in August when the funnyman hosts this year’s Emmy Awards, NBC and the Television Academy confirmed on Thursday night.
US television’s biggest night falls on August 25 at 8pm EDT on NBC, and the network certainly has proved to have a pool of worthy hosts (Amy Poehler, Tina Fey). Perhaps only a slightly less obvious choice than recently installed Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon (who hosted in 2010), the selection of Meyers comes on the heels of the Saturday Night Live alum being named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world for 2014.
Recently tapped to replace Fallon as Late Night host, Meyers previously served as a writer and performer on SNL — and as host of its Weekend Update. His ease in front of a crowd extends beyond that: He hosted the ESPYs for two consecutive years and served as ringleader of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in 2011.
This year’s Emmys will be executive produced by Don Mischer; producing with Mischer will be Charlie Haykel and Julianne Hare.
“Seth’s expertise and ease in front of a live audience during his time at SNL, as well as his comedic brilliance both as a writer and in front of the camera on SNL and Late Night, makes him the perfect choice to host the Emmys,” Paul Telegdy, head of late night and alternative programming at NBC, said in a statement. “Plus, with Don’s vast experience at putting these type of big productions together, we’ll be in great hands.”
Meyers takes over hosting duties from How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris, who hosted the ceremony last year when it aired on CBS. They’re big shoes to fill — the telecast drew its largest audience in eight years with 17.6 million viewers.
Perhaps the exposure could bring a boost to Late Night with Seth Meyers. The talk show, which has had Meyers at the wheel for about two months, has averaged about 1.6 million viewers.
“Seth is such a talented performer and writer, and we know he will bring something unique to hosting the prime-time Emmy Awards,” Bruce Rosenblum, chairman and chief executive of the Television Academy, said in a statement. “We are also excited to welcome Don back this year and very much look forward to their collaboration as we celebrate television’s biggest night during one of the most transformative years in Television Academy history.”
