Jimmy Kimmel Is Hosting the Emmys!

ABC's late-night funnyman tapped to emcee this year's 64th annual TV-honoring awards show on Sept. 23

By Gina Serpe Mar 26, 2012 2:31 PMTags
Jimmy KimmelABC/Mitch Haddad

Jimmy Kimmel is moving from late night to prime time, as ABC announced today that the funnyman has been tapped to host this year's 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards!

Something tells us a preemptive apology to Matt Damon may be in order...So, what can we expect from this year's show?

Well, if his awards-show specials are anything to go on (and we certainly hope they are), then a star-studded pretaped comedy bit won't go amiss during the festivities—and, from the sounds of things, some showbiz digs issued with just the right amount of deadpan delivery.

"I hope to be able to do for the Emmys this year what Eddie Murphy did for the Oscars," he said.

His hiring marks a return to the grand tradition of late-night hosts taking on the hosting gigs. While Jimmy Fallon hosted the show back in 2010, last year's ceremony was fronted by Jane Lynch.

In any case, Kimmel will get to hone his ringmaster skills next month, when he hosts the White House Correspondents Dinner. And he thought Hollywood was a tough crowd.

The Emmys will take place Sept. 23 at the Nokia Theatre.