Expect mischief, pranks as Emmy host Kimmel vows to 'punk' the show

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Jimmy Kimmel loves all things TV related. (ABC)

He's a big fan of David Letterman. And he absolutely loves Jon Stewart. But when Jimmy Kimmel takes the stage Sunday night as host of the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards (7 p.m., ABC and CTV), the only person he'll be trying to be is Jimmy Kimmel.

And if you've ever seen his work on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, you know that Kimmel being Kimmel means mischief, and pranks, and an unapologetic love of all things television related.

"I want it to be jazzy from beginning to end," Kimmel said when he met with the press last summer during the U.S. networks' semi-annual press tour in Los Angeles. "I don't have a ton of control over how things go; what I do know is that I'd like to be a part of the show throughout.

"I think sometimes, in award shows, the host is there in the beginning and then he or she disappears until about 45 minutes later. But it's nice to be able to comment on things as they're happening... so hopefully I will be able to insert myself in the entirety of the broadcast."

In true Kimmel style, the host announced this week that he's planning to "punk" the Emmys -- in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he encouraged viewers to tune in early and pay close attention, because the gag he's hoping to pull off "could possibly be the biggest prank ever pulled, as far as number of people involved.... The audience will be a participant in this, so it's important that you watch, because you're either going to be in on it, or not."

Kimmel refused to elaborate, not wanting to reveal anything that might ruin the joke. But in last summer's Emmy-related chat, he said that whatever he does on Emmy night will be specific to the occasion and won't depend on viewers being familiar with the type of humour he does on his late-night show.

That, he offered, is a lesson he learned from watching his hero, David Letterman, falter in his one and only Oscars-hosting gig (in 1995).

"I operate under the presumption that no one has ever seen my show," he explained. " I thought David Letterman was great when he hosted the Oscars, but I was very familiar with his show, and I loved seeing those elements of his show worked into the program. But with that said, I understand that I'm there hosting the Emmys and it's not some extension or expansion of my show."

A self-confessed TV geek, Kimmel said he believes being a fan of so many TV shows and having had so many TV stars as guests on Jimmy Kimmel Live affords him the kind of insider's status that will allow him to poke fun at the nominees and observers in the Emmy-night audience.

"Definitely; I guess it's human nature that if you know somebody, you are able to make a little bit more fun of them without them getting angry," he said. "I think that will help me. I think I will know probably 40 per cent of the people in the audience that night."

That said, however, Kimmel was quick to add that he doesn't believe being handed his first Emmy-hosting gig suddenly makes him part of the TV business's cool crowd.

"I don't know; it's more like the sad kid sitting outside of the house where the party is happening, and finally go, 'All right. Come in and have a drink,'" he laughed. "I don't know that the world has come closer to my humour, but I think it's just attrition more than anything. I think if you hang in there long enough, eventually you're part of the group."

The Emmy host could only laugh when one reporter asked whether he felt pressure to study up on current TV shows in preparation for Sunday's show.

"It's funny that you use the word 'study' because that's exactly what I did not do in high school or college, and that's why I know so much about television," he said. "I watch a lot of shows... and it's something I can comment on that everyone knows about, and that's a big point of reference for all of us."

brad.oswald@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @BradOswald

64th Primetime Emmy Awards

EMMY WATCH:

Countdown to the Red Carpet (4 p.m., E!) -- a first look at the fashion parade and interviews with celebrities.

Live From the Red Carpet (5 p.m., E!) -- hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Guiliana Rancic.

Emmys Red Carpet Live (6 p.m., ABC/CTV) -- coverage of celebrity arrivals, hosted by Chris Harrison and Clinton Kelly.

64th Primetime Emmy Awards (7 p.m., ABC/CTV) -- Jimmy Kimmel hosts; presenters include Ricky Gervais, Amy Poehler, Jim Parsons, Mindy Kaling, Louis C.K. and Ginnifer Goodwin.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 21, 2012 D6