Anthony Anderson Hosts the 75th Emmy Awards with Travis Barker

The Opening Act

Anthony Anderson began the 75th annual Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, January 15, with a musical number inspired by the best TV shows over the years.

Feature Anthony Anderson Kicks Off 2023 Emmy Awards With Rousing Musical Number Celebrating Iconic TV Shows

Anderson, 53, tickled the ivories while singing a medley of TV theme songs. He opened the ceremony with 'Mister Anderson’s Neighborhood,' a play on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, as he walked on stage and slipped on a classic suit jacket.

Anthony Anderson Kicks Off 2023 Emmy Awards With Rousing Musical Number Celebrating Iconic TV Shows

The show, which Anderson said was taking place on 'this beautiful MLK Day,' then featured the actor highlighting several iconic TV theme tunes. 'TV shaped the world and more importantly me,' he quipped, noting how much he learned from sitcoms growing up. '[There was] no Blackish, no Grownish, no Mixedish, none of that ish!'

The Rescheduled Emmys

Monday’s Emmys, held at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater, were postponed from September 2023 to January 2024 in light of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA labor strikes in Hollywood. Once the awards show was rescheduled, Anderson was hired to be the night’s emcee.

Anderson has been nominated for 11 Emmys throughout his career, all for his role of Andre 'Dre' Johnson on ABC’s Blackish. While he never clinched the trophy before the show concluded in 2022, he sees hosting as a privilege.

Future Aspirations

Hosting the Emmys could perhaps open a whole new avenue of Anderson’s career. 'I would love to have my own talk show,' he exclusively mused to We in June 2023. 'I would love to just talk to interesting people. We would talk about anything that that’s going on within the world and within the community. Nothing would be off limits.'

He added at the time: 'And, you know, Johnny Carson had his Ed McMahon; I’m gonna have my mama, Doris … be my sidekick.'