Stephen Colbert to Host 2017 Emmy Awards
Stephen Colbert is set to host the forthcoming 69th annual Emmy Awards, according to a report from Deadline.
“We’re excited to kick off the new season and celebrate the top achievements in television with Stephen Colbert as host of the Primetime Emmys,” said CBS Entertainment's executive vice president Jack Sussman, in a statement via US Weekly. “Stephen is the ultimate master of ceremonies with award-winning creative talents, and as we’ve seen the past few months, he has a fearless passion for live television. We look forward to honoring television’s best while entertaining audiences with the creative energy and sharp comedy of Stephen Colbert.”
Colbert also released a statement about the upcoming hosting gig that doubled as a dig at Donald Trump, saying, “This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period. Both in person and around the globe."
Colbert’s statement refers to White House press secretary Sean Spicer’s factually incorrect comments about attendance numbers at Trump’s January 20 inauguration.
He claimed that the event drew “the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe,” according to CNN.
Spicer later attempted clarification after a comparative photo began circulating online showing aerial images of Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration crowd against Trump’s, exhibiting proof of a marked difference in number of attendees.
The Press Secretary later claimed he was referring to the number of people who watched the inauguration in person, online and on television, though US Weekly maintains final viewership numbers have yet to be tallied.
The 2017 Emmy Awards will air on CBS on September 17, at 8PM EST.
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