From Tony to Emmy
If only one awards show host at a time holds the “it” title, the current darling is Neil Patrick Harris.
Harris entered the big leagues with this year’s Tony Awards, using his musical theater skills and easy charm to win over the audience and critics.
A phone call followed, enlisting him as host of tonight’s 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (8 p.m., CBS) – which leaves a certain movie ceremony for the hat trick.
“Tonys, Emmys, and then there’s only one thing left – the Telemundo Awards,” he quips.
Harris, 36, who gained teenage fame in “Doogie Howser, M.D.” before moving onstage to “Rent” and other plays, stars in “How I Met Your Mother” and is a best-supporting actor nominee for the CBS comedy.
Emmy executive producer Don Mischer says he has the right man for the job, one who will prove a graceful and funny host and can be entertaining in “short pops.”
“He’s terrific with that,” Mischer says. “And because Neil doesn’t feel the need to come out and hit a home run every time he makes an appearance, that frees him up to have a more consistent presence in the show. …
“I think that keeps the energy of the show up.”
Harris says his focus is less on himself as emcee and more on the ceremony. He asked to share producer duties for tonight’s broadcast.
“I didn’t want to walk into a situation where I was handed a script not to my liking,” he says. “I wanted the ability to have a say in the structuring and creation of the show.
“Maybe it’s the wannabe director in me, but I was way more interested in how the show was structured and not as interested in how the host is doing.”
Harris also wanted to ensure he has “decent material,” enlisting comedian-writer Paul Greenberg, a longtime friend, and “How I Met Your Mother” writer Joe Kelly.
The sitcom’s executive producers, Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, joined in.
Harris’ hands-on approach appears sound. With him as host and fan-favorite musicals on board for the Tony ceremony, Broadway’s big night posted a 19 percent increase over last year’s show and drew its biggest audience in three years.
In contrast, the 2008 Emmys were the least-watched ever, with 12.3 million viewers, and offered perhaps the worst-received hosting performance since David Letterman brought his late-night act to the Academy Awards: a tag-team effort by five reality show hosts.
The birthday bunch
Actress-comedian Anne Meara is 80. Actress Sophia Loren is 75. Actor Gary Cole is 53. Actress Kristen Johnston (“3rd Rock From the Sun”) is 42. Singers Gunnar and Matthew Nelson (Nelson) are 42. Rapper Yung Joc is 27.