Nellie Andreeva

Jimmy Fallon has been named host of the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards,emmy-166x300 which will air live on NBC on August 29. He succeeds his predecessor on NBC’s Late Night, Conan O’Brien, who hosted the awards show the last two times it aired on NBC, in 2002 and 2006. A high-profile gig like hosting the Emmys will raise the visibility of Fallon, who recently marked a year since taking over Late Night. Also, he is considered young and hip and can sing and dance, qualities the TV Academy has been looking for in a host since the hurrahs for  Neil Patrick Harris last year. Here is more from the press release:

15782569“Jimmy was the natural choice as one of the most promising and likable young entertainers who will now have the chance to display his many talents on television’s biggest night,” NBC’s EVP alternative programming Paul Telegdy said. “His proven skills as a comedian and host – as well as his openness to new ideas — will fully engage audiences and ultimately deliver a lively Emmy telecast.”

“Jimmy Fallon provided one of the most memorable and talked about moments from last year’s Emmy telecast,” TV Academy chairman John Shaffner said.  “He is a bright, insightful and energetic entertainer who made his name performing on live television.”

“Jimmy has many talents. He can sing, he can dance, he does impersonations, and he does it gracefully and with ease,” said executive producer Don Mischer. “I think he’ll make a terrific host .”

“Hosting the Emmys has been a dream of mine ever since they told me I was doing it,” said Jimmy Fallon, a two-time host of the MTV Movie Awards and also hosted the MTV Video Music Awards.

Nominations for the Emmy Awards will be announced Thursday, July 8.

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