Jane Lynch rolls out red carpet as Emmy host
LOS ANGELES - Jane Lynch didn't trip over the red carpet while rolling it out Wednesday morning in anticipation of Sunday's Emmy ceremony. Despite not seeing "daylight in a couple of days" and dreaming she might experience a "face plant" as the show's host, Lynch pulled it off without a hitch.
"I don't even know where I am anymore," she joked to dozens of photographers and reporters who gathered for the unveiling with the show's executive producer Mark Burnett and TV academy chairman John Shaffner.
"I actually slept OK last night for the first time in about a week," Lynch said. "I've been having some anxiety issues."
Lynch has been hard at work backstage on the show with longtime pals Jill and Faith Soloway from Chicago. The trio previously worked together on Annoyance Theatre's "The Real Live Brady Bunch" in the 1990s. (Lynch played matriarch Carol Brady.)
The first-time host promised that the Chi-town ladies would bring "kind of a Chicago feel" to the 63rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
"Jane is certainly going to be central to our experience," said Shaffner. "I think the host of a program like this is the best friend who sits on the sofa and tells you great stories as the evening goes on and comments on the work. She's here to keep us engaged in that way as a best friend."
Lynch has won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her performance as Sue Sylvester on "Glee" and is up for another Emmy this year. She was the first choice of executive producer Mark Burnett to host this year's show.
For the fourth year, the show will be held at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. The 390-foot red carpet - more like a red sidewalk, really - will canvass the entire plaza across the street from the Staples Center.
After the show, Shaffner said the red carpet and the solar panels powering it will be donated to local charities.
"People will get to live on red carpet," he boasted.
Lynch teased that the 63rd annual Primetime Emmys would feature an appearance by such members of MTV's "Jersey Shore" gang as Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Paul "DJ Pauly D" Delvecchio and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino.
She said the show will also star a chorus of singing TV actors who will introduce the award categories. They might melodically move the show along, too.
"If any of our winners go long, they'll be gently singing them off," promised Lynch.
Inside the Nokia Theatre, the sweeping set was coming together. On one side of the stage, an enormous Emmy statue was showered in glittering charms. On the other side, a raised platform was surrounded by multiple screens. At the center was a voluminous circular screen doubling as an entryway.
"It's a very big stage at the Nokia," said Burnett. "It feels important. I like the colors - reds and golds, warm tones that make you feel invited and positive. Then, you drop in great musical moments and fun. That's the tone and pace. There's too much to fit in."
Does that mean the show will go over its three-hour running time? "Hey, has it ever not?"
Place cards on the chairs in front of the stage's black-and-gold stairs illustrated that Hugh Laurie, Betty White and Chris Colfer will have the best seats in the house: front-row center.
Other nominees with sweet front-row seat assignments included Jon Cryer, Steve Carell, Mariska Hargitay, Connie Britton, Kyle Chandler, Amy Poehler and Will Arnett.