Chris Haston/NBC
The last time NBC aired the Emmy Awards in 2018, co-hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che ended up being a bit upstaged by their Saturday Night Live castmate Kenan Thompson. So it makes sense that the network would turn to SNL’s longest-running cast member to host the big night himself this year.
The showman began the evening in a full black tuxedo and top hat, introducing himself as the “mayor of television” before making the questionable decision to eschew jokes in favor of a series of elaborate dance numbers set to classic TV theme songs.
And yet, somehow, things didn’t get much better when Thompson did actually deliver an opening monologue of sorts about 20 minutes later. “Most of you know me from Saturday Night Live,” he said by way of introduction. “Some of you know me from my NBC sitcom Kenan… just not enough of you to keep it from getting canceled.”