Emmy Hosts Through the Years: Kenan Thompson, Seth Meyers and More

TV’s biggest night has been hosted by many notable Hollywood names over the years.

Stephen Colbert is a 45-time Emmy nominee and a 10-time winner, but he also has experience hosting the event. He was tapped to host the 69th annual ceremony in 2017.

The Colbert Report alum opened the show with a big musical number. He recruited stars including Anthony Anderson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chance the Rapper and Allison Janney to participate.

Comedians like Colbert have been successful in hosting the show over the years. In the past, cast members and alum from Saturday Night Live have stepped up to the plate. Eddie Murphy hosted in 1983 alongside fellow comedian Joan Rivers, while Jimmy Fallon hosted the event in 2010. Seth Meyers also hosted the Emmys in 2014.

In 2018, the Emmys continued the tradition of SNL hosts — but this time not without controversy. Michael Che and Colin Jost were asked to host for the 2018 ceremony. A month before the main event, Jost stirred up controversy for slamming awards shows.

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“I think most of the time they’re way too self-serious and focused on things that 99 percent of the country doesn’t care about,” the A Very Punchable Face author told the Los Angeles Times in August 2018. “At the end of the day, it’s adults getting trophies. Why should that be taken seriously?”

Jost then made a dig at titles that have won at past ceremonies, adding, “And remember when movies like Gladiator won best picture? Why can’t good, fun things win and not just good artsy things? They’re both good, and the fun ones are sometimes a lot harder to make.”

Though the 2019 ceremony went hostless, Jimmy Kimmel was asked to take on the role for the 2020 event despite the COVID-19 crisis still being underway. “I don’t know where we will do this or how we will do this or even why we are doing this,” Kimmel said in June 2020, per Variety. “But we are doing it and I am hosting it.”

Prior to 2020, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! star hosted the Emmys in 2012 and in 2016. In previous years, Kimmel hosted the Academy Awards in 2017 and 2018.

As the coronavirus pandemic ebbed and flowed, the Emmys attempted to return to normalcy. Following Cedric the Entertainer in 2021, Kenan Thompson was announced as the host for the 74th annual awards show in 2022. "I'm going to be pretty straightforward — a good monologue and keeping the energy up will be my approach. I enjoy honoring artistry and creativity," the SNL great told the Los Angeles Times before the September 2022 ceremony. "There's a great team that's involved. I definitely don't feel like I'm floating out there by myself. I'm really excited about it. There's some great pieces coming together. For me, [the biggest challenge is] waiting. Waiting on the day, waiting on the moment, waiting on that first laugh. Getting into it and getting it done."

Scroll down to see which stars have hosted the Emmys through the years.

TV’s biggest night has been hosted by many notable Hollywood names over the years.

Stephen Colbert is a 45-time Emmy nominee and a 10-time winner, but he also has experience hosting the event. He was tapped to host the 69th annual ceremony in 2017.

The Colbert Report alum opened the show with a big musical number. He recruited stars including Anthony Anderson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chance the Rapper and Allison Janney to participate.

Comedians like Colbert have been successful in hosting the show over the years. In the past, cast members and alum from Saturday Night Live have stepped up to the plate. Eddie Murphy hosted in 1983 alongside fellow comedian Joan Rivers, while Jimmy Fallon hosted the event in 2010. Seth Meyers also hosted the Emmys in 2014.

In 2018, the Emmys continued the tradition of SNL hosts — but this time not without controversy. Michael Che and Colin Jost were asked to host for the 2018 ceremony. A month before the main event, Jost stirred up controversy for slamming awards shows.

[jwplayer ZdS5IVT8-l3ahXupL]

“I think most of the time they’re way too self-serious and focused on things that 99 percent of the country doesn’t care about,” the A Very Punchable Face author told the Los Angeles Times in August 2018. “At the end of the day, it’s adults getting trophies. Why should that be taken seriously?”

Jost then made a dig at titles that have won at past ceremonies, adding, “And remember when movies like Gladiator won best picture? Why can’t good, fun things win and not just good artsy things? They’re both good, and the fun ones are sometimes a lot harder to make.”

Though the 2019 ceremony went hostless, Jimmy Kimmel was asked to take on the role for the 2020 event despite the COVID-19 crisis still being underway. “I don’t know where we will do this or how we will do this or even why we are doing this,” Kimmel said in June 2020, per Variety. “But we are doing it and I am hosting it.”

Prior to 2020, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! star hosted the Emmys in 2012 and in 2016. In previous years, Kimmel hosted the Academy Awards in 2017 and 2018.

As the coronavirus pandemic ebbed and flowed, the Emmys attempted to return to normalcy. Following Cedric the Entertainer in 2021, Kenan Thompson was announced as the host for the 74th annual awards show in 2022. "I'm going to be pretty straightforward — a good monologue and keeping the energy up will be my approach. I enjoy honoring artistry and creativity," the SNL great told the Los Angeles Times before the September 2022 ceremony. "There's a great team that's involved. I definitely don't feel like I'm floating out there by myself. I'm really excited about it. There's some great pieces coming together. For me, [the biggest challenge is] waiting. Waiting on the day, waiting on the moment, waiting on that first laugh. Getting into it and getting it done."

Scroll down to see which stars have hosted the Emmys through the years.

The Nickelodeon alum became one of many SNL personalities to take on the hosting gig. After Thompson's role was announced in August 2022, Emmys executive producers Reginald Hudlin and Ian Stewart teased big things to come. "He is beloved, and from the time we announced him there's been nothing but positive responses," Hudlin told the Associated Press. "He has these great connections with everyone, and we're going to maximize those connections. ... He's the unofficial mayor of Hollywood."

"I'm very excited that there will be some degree of an audience there, still be some celebs in the room," the comedian told Variety ahead of the 2021 ceremony, which returned to being held in-person amid the coronavirus pandemic. "The virtual aspect of last year, even though I thought they did a great job, that probably wouldn't have been as appealing to me. I'm excited with having some people there. And hopefully, that remains to be true all the way through, until the day."

Hosting the broadcast in 2012, Kimmel famously teamed with Tracy Morgan to fool fans on Twitter into thinking Morgan passed out on stage. The host told viewers to tweet, "OMG, Tracy Morgan just passed out on stage at the Emmys, turn ABC on now!" The comedians actually fooled the Twitterverse. "OMG 25,000 tweets instantly thanks to OMG Tracy Morgan Emmys," Twitter TV announced. "Thanks Jimmy Kimmel!"

Kimmel returned to the Emmys stage in 2016 after a four-year hiatus. “This year’s nominees are the most diverse ever, and the only thing we value more than diversity is congratulating ourselves on how much we value diversity,” he quipped in his opening monologue. “The Oscars are now telling people [the Emmys are] one of their closest friends — we’re not, by the way.”

It was announced in June 2020 that the late-night host would host the ceremony for the third time that September.

NBC announced in April that the Saturday Night Live head cowriters and “Weekend Update” hosts would emcee the 2018 ceremony. “We’re proud to be the first duo hosting the Emmys since Jenna Elfman and David Hyde Pierce, and somehow that’s a real fact,” the duo said in a joint statement at the time, per Variety.

Colbert took his Late Show comedy to the 2017 Emmys. “Can you feel it?” he asked his rapt audience during the show. “This room is crackling with the collective energy of people who, for the past 48 hours, have consumed nothing but distilled water and Crest Whitestrips.”

The SNL funnyman served as the the 2015 emcee. “Buckle your seat belts, Emmy viewers!” Samberg said in a statement before the event. “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.”

"Having been a nominee and a guest of the Emmys in the audience, that first 10 minutes is the best time to get the audience to laugh . . . you want to be out there when it's hopeful and optimistic, telling jokes, as opposed to coming out in the last hour and saying, 'Hey, I want to try some new material now that you guys are bummed out and want to be drinking,'" the SNL vet told critics before hosting the 2014 show.

How I Met Your Mother's Harris took the Emmy stage for the second time on Sept. 22, 2013, four years after his hosting debut.

One year after Lynch nabbed an Emmy for her role as Glee's Sue Sylvester, the comedienne hosted the annual best of TV bash. Opening the show with a routine alongside Mad Men's Jon Hamm, The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons and Entourage's Jeremy Piven, Lynch also poked fun at Ricky Gervais' controversial turn as host of the Golden Globes. "Poor little Ricky Gervais. Someone didn't get enough hugs from mommy and somehow it's Hollywood's fault," Lynch joked of Gervais.

For his 2010 opening number, Fallon channeled Bruce Springsteen — clad in a white tee and jeans — when teaming with Tina Fey, Jon Hamm, Jorge Garcia, Randy Jackson and the cast of Glee to perform "Born to Run." "NBC asked me, the host of Late Night, to come to Los Angeles to host a different show," Fallon later joked. "What could possibly go wrong?"

The nominees for Best Reality Show Host emceed the telecast to celebrate the category's introduction in 2008. Participating in a series of awkward off-the-cuff skits, the group teamed up one year after Seacrest hosted the show solo, to similarly dismal ratings.

O'Brien — who hosted the Emmys jointly in 2003 with Ellen DeGeneres and Garry Shandling — poked fun at NBC on the peacock net's telecast in 2006, telling viewers that "halfway through the show, [it] will be canceled."

Hosting the Emmys in 1994 with Patricia Richardson and solo in 2001, DeGeneres found the 2005 Emmys especially sweet: At the annual Daytime Emmy presentation, she took home a Best Prime Time Talk Show Host award for The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

"Garry is really respected and liked by people in the community," Emmy executive producer Don Mischer said of his decision to ask the actor back to host in 2004, five years after his first solo stint. "He puts a lot of time and effort into [his role as host], and he's funny and can roll with the punches — which is important for a live show."

Comics unite! The group was among the 11 comedians hired to host the 2003 show, alongside DeGeneres, Conan O'Brien and Garry Shandling.

Teaming to helm the 1999 broadcast, the Dharma & Greg actress and Fraiser star were both also nominated at the event. Hyde Pierce took home a Best Supporting Actor trophy for his role as Niles Crane on Fraiser.

"I'll do what I do. I'm not going to do anything out of character. It will be a dignified affair," former TODAY show anchor Gumbel said of the Emmys after CBS president Les Moonves courted him to preside over the 1997 show.

George Clooney's medical drama ER led the 1996 show with 17 nominations the year Fox, Reiser and Winfrey hosted. They nabbed the trophy for Outstanding Drama Series.

"I don't expect to light the world on fire as co-host," Seinfeld's Alexander admitted before hosting 1995's telecast with Shepherd. How did Alexander prepare for his hosting debut? "I hear Valium is very helpful," he quipped to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch prior to the big day.

DeGeneres — joined by the Home Improvement actress — made the first of her eventual four hosting appearances in 1994.

Following successful Tony Awards hosting stints, Murder She Wrote's legendary leading lady took the lead during the 1993 Emmys.

Prior to his Home Improvement wife Patricia Richardson's turn at the Emmys, Allen hosted in 1992 alongside Alley (then in her Cheers heyday) and Miller, who had hosted the show the year prior.

Though he delivered no formal monologue in 1990, Leno won raves for his scattered quips throughout the FOX broadcast, offsetting the tepid banter of his co-hosts, who lacked a comedy background.

Earning five Emmy Awards throughout his career, Night Court's Larroquette opted out of the 1989 nominations to give his fellow actors their due recognition. Larroquette, known for his role as Dan Fielding, hosted the award show instead.

Held in August instead of the traditional September due to the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, the 1988 Emmys were hosted by the Dynasty and Charlie's Angels legend, who passed away in 2010 at age 92.

1987 was a doubly lucky Emmy year for Die Hard's Willis, who hosted the program and took home an Outstanding Lead Actor trophy for his role on TV's Moonlighting.

A comedic dream team! The beloved comics joined forces to host the 35th annual Primetime Emmys in 1983. The pair had worked together on Saturday Night Live earlier that year, where Murphy was a series regular and Rivers made her only appearance as guest host.

The Magnum, P.I. alum took on the duties as a solo host in 1984. The Blue Bloods actor, who is also a California Army National Guard veteran, is a seven-time Emmy nominee and one-time winner, earning his first and only award, for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, the year he hosted the Emmys.

The former Happy Days actor and Charlie’s Angels actress teamed up to host the 31st annual show in 1979. Though Ladd has yet to score an Emmy, Winkler nabbed his first win in 2018 for Oustanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Barry. 

As the Tonight Show host, Carson was a go-to as an awards show host. In addition to hosting the Academy Awards five times, the six-time Emmy winner hosted TV’s biggest night four years in a row from 1971 to 1974 — beating a record held by Ellen DeGeneres, Joey Bishop, John Forsythe and Danny Thomas, all of whom hosted the show three times.