With the veteran “Saturday Evening Stay” star in command of the awards present, the producers say, anticipate a enjoyable, straightforward night time.
LOS ANGELES — Emmy Awards host Kenan Thompson and the ceremony’s producers are predicting a conflict-free zone, in contrast to the Oscars present that was marred by an on-stage slap.
Thompson mentioned the confrontation final March through which Will Smith attacked presenter Chris Rock over a joke directed at Smith’s spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith, was each unsettling and avoidable.
“It sort of simply threw your complete world off guard, mainly, and that gained’t occur once more,” Thompson advised The Related Press. “Even when I’m roasting (somebody), it should not come throughout as any kind of malice.”
If a joke finally ends up stinging, he mentioned, an apology and dialog could also be so as. However Rock — who “would not have a imply bone in his physique,” Thompson mentioned — or some other comedian should not anticipate a response like Smith’s to a quip.
A primary-time Emmy host, the veteran “Saturday Evening Stay” forged member is following within the footsteps of different “SNL” colleagues together with Michael Che, Colin Jost and Andy Samberg.
Thompson mentioned he slept on the supply earlier than saying sure. The ceremony airs 8 p.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 12, on NBC and can stream stay on Peacock, with dramas “Succession” and “Squid Recreation” and comedies “Ted Lasso” and “Hacks” amongst the main nominees.
“It is an enormous deal, and it’s not essentially one thing that I wish to drop the ball on. So I used to be like, ‘Let me sit with this,’” he mentioned. After speaking with producers, he knew that he wished to do it and the method to take.
“This ought to be an evening of appreciating artistry and creativity and eradicating the stress of all of it out. I get it — it sucks to lose, and everyone’s selecting outfits and making an attempt to do the pink carpet factor,” Thompson mentioned. “However on the identical time, it is an superior factor to be within the room on Emmys night time, and I do not need that to get misplaced within the stress.”
Reginald Hudlin and Ian Stewart, returning as government producers for the ceremony, think about Thompson excellent for the job.
“He’s beloved, and from the time we introduced him there’s been nothing however optimistic responses,” Hudlin mentioned. “He has these nice connections with everybody, and we’re going to maximise these connections…..He’s the unofficial mayor of Hollywood.”
Whereas Rock was the primary participant at a significant awards present to pay bodily for a joke, Ricky Gervais has drawn his share of superstar frowns for the insult humor he routinely employed as Golden Globes host.
Stars participating within the Emmys needn’t fear about being within the line of comedic hearth with Thompson, Stewart mentioned.
“For those who went to Kenan’s home for a celebration, you realize it’s simply going to be a enjoyable, straightforward time with plenty of laughs,” he mentioned. “There’s nothing that may be in any means aggressive or acerbic. He’s not that man.”
Viewers have come to know Thompson’s type from “SNL,” the place he is an everyday a part of music video send-ups and performs vivid characters together with the spotlight-hogging host of “What Up With That.” He additionally starred within the just-ended sitcom “Kenan.”
Is there part of him as a performer he is wanting to showcase on the Emmys? “How fast I could be on my toes,” he replied, then turned the query outward.
“We all know the people who find themselves within the classes,” he mentioned, however there could possibly be the welcome shock of, say, a legendary actor in attendance.
“We ought to be conscious, and level that out and rejoice them,” he mentioned. “I actually need the neighborhood side of all of it to be within the forefront.”
Requested if he’ll participate in any musical numbers, Thompson mentioned it is greater than seemingly.
“I believe we have to open with a bang…. (and) there’s some some concepts cooking on that degree. However no matter it’s, it’s got to be tight, and it may possibly’t seem to be it is simply there to fill time,” he mentioned. “We have now their (viewers) consideration. It’d higher be value having.”
