Emmys’ Longtime Love for Hosting Duos, Starting with Lucy & Desi

Eugene Levy and his son Dan Levy continue to carve their place in Emmy history. Four years ago, their comedy series “Schitt’s Creek” swept the awards with nine Emmys, including best comedy series, actor, actress, supporting actors, writing, and directing. Even pre-“Schitt’s Creek,” Eugene wasn’t a newcomer to the Emmys. He had already won two trophies in 1982 and 1983 as a writer for the much-loved “SCTV.” Interestingly, Dan was only a month old when Eugene received his second honor.

This year, Eugene is eyeing his 14th nomination for outstanding hosted nonfiction series or special with Apple TV+’s “The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy.” Adding another feather to their cap, both Eugene and Dan are set to become the first father-son duo to host the Emmys, scheduled to air on September 15 on ABC. Eugene, at 77, also notably becomes the oldest Emmy host ever.

Having more than one host is no novelty for the Emmys. In 1952, TV’s most famous couple, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, were the first husband and wife team to host the event. Desi returned solo as the host in 1957.

For a long time, hosting duties were predominantly handed to men. This changed in 1993 when Angela Lansbury made history as the first solo female host of the 45th Emmys. Jane Lynch was the last female host, gracing the stage in 2011.

In 1965, Sammy Davis Jr. broke new ground as the first Black host, sharing the honors with Danny Thomas. Around that time, Davis was enjoying a successful run on Broadway with the musical “Golden Boy.” Fellow Rat Packer Frank Sinatra co-hosted in 1968 alongside Dick Van Dyke. Van Dyke, now 98, recently became the oldest person to receive a Daytime Emmy for guest performer in a drama series for “Days of Our Lives.” This year his CBS special, “Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic,” is up for four Emmys, including outstanding variety special (pre-recorded).

Over the decades, there have been some unusual pairings. Perhaps the oddest was that of Angie Dickinson and the controversial Robert Blake in 1977. They likely got the nod because both were Emmy nominees for their respective popular police dramas, NBC’s “Police Woman” and ABC’s “Baretta.” One wonders if Blake’s feathery sidekick, Fred the cockatoo, made a cameo appearance.

The year with the highest number of co-hosts was 2008. Five stars of reality competition series – Tom Bergeron, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Jeff Probst, and Ryan Seacrest – shared the stage. The result? A classic case of too many cooks spoiling the Emmy broth.

Late-night legend Johnny Carson transitioned to primetime in 1971, hosting his first of four consecutive Emmy gigs. Carson had previously co-hosted the ceremony in 1962 with David Brinkley in Washington, D.C., and the late, great Bob Newhart. By 1979, Carson had also taken on the Oscars, hosting it five times.

Then there are the forgotten names, the “Who?” Emmy hosts. The earliest ceremonies, presented locally in Los Angeles, were helmed by largely obscure figures like the first emcee Walter O’Keefe in 1949. A multifaceted talent, O’Keefe was a radio personality, actor, Broadway composer, and columnist. He replaced Rudy Vallee at the last minute when Vallee left town unexpectedly.

The 75th Emmy Awards, postponed from last September to January 2024 due to the actors’ and writers’ strikes, bring to mind the 32nd Emmys in 1980. Back then, the industry was grappling with an actors’ strike, but the show continued with Steven Allen and Dick Clark as hosts. That year, actor Powers Boothe stood out for being the only one among 52 nominated performers to show up, accepting his award for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or special for CBS’ “Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones.” Boothe wryly remarked, “This is either the most courageous moment of my career or the stupidest.” Fortunately, he enjoyed a bustling career until his passing in 2017.

Source: Gold Derby