Stephen Colbert on his love for ‘Stranger Things’ and his promise of nudity at Sunday’s Emmys

LOS ANGELES – Stephen Colbert may be new to the award show-hosting game, but he rolled out the red carpet like a professional on Tuesday morning as part of the run-up to the 69th Emmy Awards, which he will emcee on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

“It’s an honor to be hosting the Emmys, and it’s even more of an honor installing the carpet,” Colbert told the assembled crowd of photographers, camera operators and reporters at the Microsoft Theater. Despite the early hour, Colbert was riffing in full late-night comedy mode. “How much was this? Six dollars a yard? I’m going to re-grout the bathrooms right after.”

Joined by Emmy show producers Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss along with CBS Entertainment’s Jack Sussman and the Television Academy’s Hayma Washington, Colbert wore his familiar amused expression through much of the event, which featured the news that TV legends Norman Lear and Carol Burnett will appear as presenters. Not to be outdone, Colbert also offered an announcement of how the show, under his lead, would feature nudity for the first time.

“Look forward to my butt crack,” he dryly promised, and soon after led the quintet in kicking out the red carpet, gamely skipping behind it as he nudged it forward. “I feel like a lumberjack,” he deadpanned afterward.