Leslie Jones Set to Host Emmy Awards Nominations

LOS ANGELES - SEP 17: Leslie Jones at the 2018 Emmy Awards Arrivals at the Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA. (Credit: Deposit Photos)

Comedian and actress Leslie Jones has been tapped to host the nominations announcements for the 72nd Emmy Awards, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced Thursday.

Frozen actor Josh Gad, Orange Is the New Black’s Laverne Cox, and Orphan Black star Tatiana Maslany will help with the announcements, which will stream at Emmys.com on Tuesday, July 28, at 8:30 a.m. PT/11:30 a.m. ET.

This year’s nominations reveal has been reimagined as a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Television has played an integral role in navigating these unprecedented times and has brought us together as we remain apart,” Frank Scherma, Television Academy chairman and CEO, said in a press release. “We are honored to have these groundbreaking actors, producers and comedians announce this year’s Emmy nominees — whose extraordinary work has been vital to the evolution of the television landscape this season.”

Related Story: Leslie Jones Gets Candid About ‘Saturday Night Live’ Exit

Jones is a Saturday Night Live alum, Emmy-nominated actress, and host of ABC’s game show revival Supermarket Sweep. Her one-hour comedy special, Leslie Jones: Time Machine, can currently be streamed on Netflix. She is next slated to appear on the big screen in Coming to America 2.

The Television Academy announced last month that Jimmy Kimmel will host the 72nd Emmy Awards, and also serve as executive producer.

“I don’t know where we will do this or how we will do this or even why we are doing this, but we are doing it and I am hosting it,” Kimmel quipped in a statement. The late-night host previously emceed both the 64th and 68th Emmy Awards.

The 72nd Emmy Awards will air Sunday, Sept. 20 from 8:00-11:00 p.m. EDT/5:00-8:00 p.m. PDT on ABC.