Anthony Anderson Emerges Host Of 75th Emmys, Taylor Swift Was 'Unavailable'

Anthony Anderson is set to emcee the live telecast of the 75th Emmy Awards from the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles on January 15, 2024, on Fox. 

Besides coinciding with the federal holiday of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the date also notably marks nearly five months after the last ballot for the awards was cast. Additionally, the Emmys will be available for streaming on Hulu on January 16.  

On Wednesday, the Television Academy took to social media to announce that Anderson will handle the hosting duties for the upcoming Emmys. Alongside an image of the "Black-ish" star looking dapper in a black two-piece tuxedo, the professional service organization wrote in the caption:

"We are so excited to announce Anthony Anderson as the host for the #75thEmmys! Watch the #75thEmmys on Monday, January 15, only on @foxtv! ?✨."

Within hours, the post accrued hundreds of likes, with a few more people heading into the comment section to celebrate the news. While one fan claimed, "He'll be better than Colin Jost and Michael Che," another exclaimed, "Excellent choice!" and a third asserted, "This will be good."

"Alright now that's a great choice," a fourth Instagram user stated, and a fifth declared, "This year will be lit ?." Anderson himself addressed the prestigious gig in a statement, sharing:

"With our industry's recent challenges behind us, we can get back to what we love — dressing up and honoring ourselves. And there's no better celebratory moment to bring the creative community together than the milestone 75th Emmy Awards."

The father of two added that when Fox reached out to him "to host this historic telecast, I was over the moon that Taylor Swift was unavailable, and now I can't wait to be part of the biggest night in television."

Choosing Anderson as the event's host, it turns out, was a straightforward decision for Fox, as Allison Wallach, the head of unscripted programming at the network, commended his recent initiative in taking over as the host of the new game show "We Are Family," replacing Jamie Foxx.

It was through that that she knew that the 53-year-old would be "a natural fit for a star-studded, anticipatory night like the Emmys." Wallace further explained, per Daily Mail:

"Anthony's known for his humor, heart and spontaneity, so he's sure to give audiences in the theater and at home a night they'll never forget."

The 75th Annual Emmy Awards was initially set to be held on September 18, 2023, but faced delays due to strikes involving the Writers Guild of America [WGA] and the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists [SAG-AFTRA]. 

Though still weeks away, the remaining "Friends" cast members are reportedly planning a reunion for a tribute to Matthew Perry during the upcoming Emmy Awards.

According to an informant, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, and Matt LeBlanc intend to share "personal memories" of their experiences with the late actor. In the words of the source:

"When it comes to Matthew's death, emotions are still running high and it is still a very touchy situation, which is totally understandable. But Jen, Lisa, and the rest of the cast want to honor him publicly at some point and give him the tribute he so rightfully deserves – and there have been rumblings to do it at next year's Emmys."

The insider further conveyed, "Should they reach a consensus on a fitting tribute and obtain the family's approval, they will certainly come together to create a memorable evening for Matthew and everyone who cherished him."

It was previously revealed that Perry passed away on October 28, having been discovered lifeless in his home's hot tub. However, the 54-year-old actor's cause of death remains undetermined, as the autopsy yielded inconclusive results, with the toxicology report pending. 

Perry is best known for portraying the witty and humorous Chandler Bing in the renowned "Friends" series. He also had recurring roles in the legal dramas "The Good Wife" and "The Good Fight" and earned Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his standout performance in "The West Wing."