NBC and the Television Academy announced jointly today that SNL regular Kenan Thompson will host the 74th Emmy Awards.
“Being a part of this incredible evening where we honor the best of the television community is ridiculously exciting, and to do it on NBC – my longtime network family – makes it even more special,” Thompson said. “Like all TV fans, I can’t wait to see the stars from my favorite shows.”
Jen Neal, Executive Vice President of Live Events for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said, “Kenan is well-regarded as one of funniest, likeable and accomplished performers of the last two decades and his tenure on Saturday Night Live speaks for itself. We know he’ll bring an excitement and professionalism to the Emmy Awards that a show of this stature deserves.”
The three-hour, coast-to-coast live telecast from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 12 and begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and will also stream on Peacock.
Kenan Thompson is an award-winning actor, comedian and producer, best known for his work on Saturday Night Live. This fall he will enter his 20th season on the iconic late-night series as the longest-running cast member.
A six-time Emmy Award nominee, Thompson received two nominations in 2021 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his comedy series Kenan and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for SNL. He previously received two Emmy nominations in 2018 and 2020 in the supporting actor category for his work on SNL.
Thompson won an Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics in 2018 for the SNL song Come Back, Barack, and received a nomination in the same category in 2017 for co-writing Last Christmas from the popular Jingle Barack SNL music video. He will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in August.
Thompson has made numerous contributions to SNL with his slew of hilarious impressions that include Rev. Al Sharpton, Charles Barkley, Steve Harvey and David Ortiz, and by playing memorable characters such as DJ Dynasty Handbag, the scathingly fierce co-host of Deep House Dish, Weekend Update correspondent Jean K. Jean, Black Jeopardy host Darnell Hayes and Diondre Cole, the disruptive singing talk show host on the wildly popular sketch What Up With That.
He recently appeared in season two of HBO Max’s That Damn Michael Che and Prime Video’s The Kids in the Hall.
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For two seasons, Thompson executive produced and starred as the title character in the NBC comedy series Kenan. He served as producer and judge alongside Chrissy Teigen, Jeff Foxworthy and Amanda Seales on NBC’s comedy competition series Bring the Funny. He also served as an executive producer on Nickelodeon’s 2019 All That reboot.
A native of Atlanta, Thompson made his television debut as an original cast member of Nickelodeon’s all-kid sketch comedy series All That. He and Kel Mitchell debuted on the wildly popular spinoff Kenan and Kel in 1996.
His past projects include Paramount’s Clifford the Big Red Dog, Disney+’s Home Sweet Home Alone, Netflix’s Adam Sandler film Hubie Halloween, starring opposite Samuel L. Jackson in Snakes on a Plane, Wieners and The Magic of Belle Isle with Morgan Freeman. Other film credits include Fat Albert, D2: The Mighty Ducks, Good Burger, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Brother Nature, Heavyweights, My Boss’s Daughter, Barbershop 2, Going in Style and They Came Together. He also had a recurring role on the WB’s Felicity.
Thompson showcased his voice talents as Bricklebaum in The Grinch, which made history as the #1 Christmas movie of all time. Thompson has also lent his voice to the animated films Trolls World Tour, Wonder Park, The Smurfs, The Smurfs 2 and Space Chimps, the television series Sit Down, Shut Up and the Kobe Bryant/LeBron James Nike puppet campaign during the 2009 NBA playoffs. He was the voice of Austin Impresario Sullivan in the Hulu animated series The Awesomes and Riff in the film Rock Dog.
Thompson is represented by UTA, Del/Shaw and Michael Goldman.
A week prior to the telecast, the 2022 Creative Arts Emmy Awards will take over two consecutive nights on Saturday, Sept. 3 and Sunday, Sept. 4. An edited presentation will be aired Saturday, Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FXX.
Done+Dusted will produce the telecast.
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