After 2019’s Oscars went emcee-less, the Television Academy is reportedly thinking of doing the same thing.
It seems that the 71st annual Emmy Awards might be following the 2019 Oscars that went emcee-less for the first time in decades. If the upcoming awards show follows suit, then this would be the first time since 2003 that the telecast will take place sans a host.
According to Variety, the possibility of a host-less Emmys is among the leading options being considered by Fox and the Television Academy as it preps up for this year’s telecast.
“With just three months until the telecast and no host yet named, insiders confirm that the Emmys may go without one for the first time since 2003 (when the show also aired on Fox). But they also caution that nothing has been decided, and the perfect host may still come along and be hired,” reported Variety. “The move would also be in line with the mandate that the Academy and Fox gave when it brought in two different production companies to handle the Emmys together.”
Besides 2003, the Emmys also went without a host in 1975 (on CBS) and in 1998 (on NBC).
For the last few years, selected hosts have been announced well before the Emmys ceremony.
In their respective years, Stephen Colbert was announced in January; Jimmy Kimmel in March, and Colin Jost, and Michael Che in late April. With just three months to go until the next Emmys, it would seem like the Television Academy is cutting it close if the organization does plan to name a host.
Coming to last year’s Emmys, which aired on NBC, they were hosted by Saturday Night Live anchors, Michael Che and Colin Jost, who received mixed reviews. The awards show averaged a 2.4 rating among adults 18-49 and 10.2 million viewers, making it the least-watched Emmys on record.
However, if we take into account 2019 Oscars, it earned improved ratings despite not having a host; proving that going host-less in the modern era can actually work.
Vanity Fair noted: “Despite all the hand-wringing that followed Kevin Hart’s scandalous departure and subsequent PR drama, Oscar producers managed to keep their prestigious ceremony running smoothly, opening the show with a Queen performance (pegged to the success of Bohemian Rhapsody) and an awards presentation from charismatic trio Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, and Maya Rudolph (who are, again, all Saturday Night Live alumni). The rest of the night was filled with memorable, swoon-worthy musical performances (hello, Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga) and an array of starry presenters. The show also ended in about three hours—proving that trimming the introductory monologue and whatever other bits the host had planned can be beneficial in the long run.”
Moreover, going host-less will resolve one of the most challenging issues facing awards shows these days i.e. finding the right host.
While this year’s Emmy nominations will be announced on July 16, the 71st annual Emmy Awards will take place on September 22, in the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles and air live on Fox.
– With information from Vanity Fair and Variety
