Without the right host, an award show can feel like a bland main course. To add spice to tonight’s Emmy Awards ceremony, Anthony Anderson will be taking the stage in his unique comedic style. This will be the Black-ish actor’s first stint as the ringmaster of an awards circus, so attendees and viewers at home do not quite know what to expect. 

Before one lunges into an assessment of Anderson and the prospect of him being invited to anchor another event in the future, here is a look at the host who landed the most encores. 

The man who dominated the Emmy Award stage for 4 years

One demographic that has been the indisputable champion of all Emmy hosts is talk show hosts. Among them is one who had mastered the art of being an MC to the extent of being throned as the Emmy Awards host four times, Johnny Carson. Other talk show hosts like Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Kimmel have also had quite an impressive stint, both having hosted the awards show three times.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson broadcaster premiered as the event’s host in 1971. Subsequently, he was asked to make comebacks for three consecutive years! Not only was he a favorite among hosts, but he also bagged six Emmy Awards himself! With poker-faced delivery, Carson turned every monologue into a symphony of hilarity.

The only other group that ever rivaled talk show hosts has been comedy virtuosos.

Comedians vs. talk show luminaries

In the battle of hosts, the deciding factor remains the ability to entertain and engage. While stand-up artists are proficient at the former, some talk show hosts tend to possess the ability to do both. Late-night show personalities like Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon have forever been compared with comedy actors like Jane Lynch, Neil Patrick Harris and Andy Samberg for the way they stole the show at the Emmys in the past. 

Keeping this assessment in mind, it is important to note that Anthony Anderson falls in the comedian category giving him the edge that he needs. However, the recent disappointment of Jo Koy’s disastrous Golden Globes gig haunts award show enthusiasts’ faith in stand-up stars. His performance cast doubt on the stand-up demographic’s ability to incorporate jokes into their scripts. Will Anthony Anderson be able to regain that faith?

What fans can expect from Anthony Anderson

Tasked with keeping everybody entertained while 26 different awards are dolled out, a lot rests on Anderson’s shoulders tonight. Despite the enormous responsibility, the We Are Family actor confessed that he is not feeling the “pressure” during a preview with Associated Press. The 53-year-old plans on being himself and having “fun” as the MC instead of being a nervous wreck in the crowd. 

Since tonight’s event coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, he is focused on making the African-American community proud. So far, Anderson has wielded his talents effortlessly in many sitcoms shifting between comedy, drama, and everything in between. However, the Emmy Awards will take away the filter of the lens including its benefit of doing a re-take if the joke does not land the first time.

Other comedy sitcom legends who managed to pull off this opportunity still remain the top picks for most.

Comedy actors Anthony Anderson will need to outshine to be the best

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine sensation, Andy Samberg took on the Emmy hosting challenge in 2015 with an arsenal of punchlines. His opening monologue was exactly what fans expected, a hilarious sketch like the many he is known to write for SNL. He soared through the night with a cheeky charm that left audiences wondering if they were at an awards show or a side-splitting comedy special.

Also known for a similar dexterous charm and effervescent wit, Neil Patrick Harris slayed the Emmy stage in both 2009 and 2013. The How I Met Your Mother actor’s masterful navigation of the ceremony transformed it into a vivacious Broadway production that people simply could not take their eyes off. Only his Glee co-star, Jane Lynch had ever entertained audiences so spectacularly before. 

The reigning champion of Emmy hosts, Jane Lynch

At the 63rd Emmy Awards show, Jane Lynch took the stage by storm and transformed the event into a riotous playground. While she has come to be known as the unfunny character, Sophie Lennon, in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel lately, Lynch’s comedic prowess is quite the contrary. The Glee actress’ sly wit, impeccable sense of timing and uproarious anecdotes turned her into a legend of the awards night.

 In the opening monologue, Lynch roped in the cast of Big Bang Theory leaving viewers in splits. This year, the CBS show’s most debated rival, Friends is believed to be offering a cast reunion at the Emmy Awards. With the baton now in Anthony Anderson’s hands, fans are looking forward to another night of levity at the ceremony.

Do you reckon Anthony Anderson will nail his bit tonight? Share your thoughts in the comments.