Ahead of the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, we take a look at the leading contenders, the biggest battles, the first-time nominees and the irrepressible Andy Samberg, who says that he is ready to rock as the host of TV’s biggest awards extravaganza Andy Samberg has a secret dream: “It would be killer, like, if right when I walked off stage at the end of the show, somebody really cool, like, say, Beetlejuice, was like: ‘You’re the host with the most’.”
While the jury’s still out on whether the devious ghoul will grant the host of the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards his wish, the rest of us can look forward to what promises to be a superlative evening of stars, mirth and a glittering recognition of thespian jobs well done during tonight’s ceremony, which will be broadcast tomorrow on OSN.
"I'm psyched. And I'm pumped. And I'm ready to rock. And if you don't like me, tune in anyway, because I'll only be on for a fraction of the show," says Samberg, an Emmy winner for his musical work on Saturday Night Live as well as the recipient of last year's best actor Golden Globe for his star turn as peculiar detective Jake Peralta on the Fox hit comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
What makes this affable 37-year-old the ideal Emmy host may well be what some call the “Sambergian Ubiquity” – his seeming omnipresence in the pop-culture landscape this year.
He performed the maddeningly catchy Lego Movie song, Everything is Awesome, at the Oscars, he appeared on SNL's 40th anniversary special, his voice can be heard in the animated film Hotel Transylvania 2, there was his rude 'n' crude HBO tennis mockumentary, 7 Days in Hell, and then there is his upcoming as-yet-untitled musical-comedy movie, which was produced by Judd Apatow, and stars his comedy troupe, The Lonely Island.
Helping fearless Samberg sparkle at the podium will be the awards presenters, including Jimmy Fallon, LL Cool J, Will Forte, Terrence Howard and Lady Gaga.
"I know it'll be a funny show," said the Saturday Night Live alum. "We have really funny presenters this year. The deck is very stacked with comedy in the room, a lot of which is due to them including the sketch-comedy category in the prime time show this year, which is great."
Inside the theatre, place cards positioned in seats in front of a cube-covered stage offered a preview of the evening’s seating arrangements. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kevin Spacey, Kerry Washington, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are among the celebs with prestigious front-row spots.
The first-time Emmys host said he’ll also rely on nominated sketch-comedy pals in the crowd, including Amy Schumer, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, to keep the three-hour extravaganza moving along.
“We’ve got a silly crew,” said Samberg. “I think we’re going to find a good balance. You don’t want it to be too silly or too meta to the point where it feels like we’re not taking the show seriously.”
Bruce Rosenblum, chairman and chief executive of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, said Samberg has free reign as Emmys host.
“The reason he was selected was to be innovative, fresh and funny,” said Rosenblum. “We’re looking forward to that.”
“I actually do know what it feels like to win an Emmy,” says Samberg.
“My advice to someone who wins? Keep it short. Don’t thank anyone. Just kiss that statue and hightail it out of there.”
• The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast at 4am and 10pm tomorrow on OSN First HD. Visit www.emmys.com/awards/ nominees-winners
* With additional reporting from AP
artslife@thenational.ae
