5 things to know about Emmy announcer Jermaine Fowler
The 2017 Emmy Awards experimented with a new announcer, to mixed reviews.
— -- Stephen Colbert wasn't the only one making headlines at Sunday night's Emmy Awards.
Comedian Jermaine Fowler made his debut as the Emmys' announcer last night. Unlike previous award show announcers, who are often heard more than they are seen, Fowler was a part of the show, riffing between segments, quipping about the night's winners and showing off his dancing moves before commercial breaks.
He didn't hold back his excitement either, whether it was announcing Issa Rae's name as a presenter or shouting "Lena!" when Lena Waithe made history as the first black woman to win best writing for a comedy series, alongside Aziz Ansari.
Though Fowler, 29, stars in the new CBS Sitcom "Superior Donuts," he was still relatively unknown to a lot of folks. That changed after last night, where there were strong opinions, both positive and negative, about his performance.
Here are five things to know about the 2017 Emmys Awards breakout star Jermaine Fowler:
1. He's the first black lead on a CBS sitcom in years
Fowler has a lot of weight on his shoulders as the first black lead on a CBS sitcom in years -- possibly since "Cosby" went off the air in 2000. Before "Superior Donuts" made its February debut, with Fowler playing millennial Franco Wicks opposite Judd Hirsch and Katey Sagal, he described his feelings to Complex magazine.
"I feel like they had to shake things up in a way. They did with this show," he told Complex. "Personally, I can't tell you why CBS chose right now, but I'll tell you ... the world around us right now is changing, and I feel like they wanted me in a comedy that reflected that."
Fowler is also an executive producer of the show.
2. He comes from stand-up
Before "Superior Donuts," Fowler started his career in stand-up comedy. He earned credits in "The Eric Andre Show" and "BoJack Horseman," performed voice-over work for "Family Guy" and "Robot Chicken" and had his own Showtime special, "Give Em Hell Kid," in 2015.
3. He's a new dad
In July, Fowler welcomed his first child with his partner, makeup artist Meagan Hester: a daughter named Thebe.
Hester accompanied him to the Emmys Sunday night.
4. His Emmys performance was part of a plan
In addition to shaking up CBS's primetime lineup, Fowler was asked to shake up the announcer role on Sunday's Emmys Awards.
"What most awards show do is have the announcer locked in a closet reading from a script on cue," a CBS executive told Deadline before the show. "What we will do is have Jermaine be an active part of the show. He will be connected with what’s happened on the telecast and what happens next. What we want to do is get a peek behind the curtain in a fun, engaging way."
That meant giving Fowler room to ad-lib and appear on camera.
5. Where to see him next
Fowler just signed on to the film "Sorry to Bother You" with Tessa Thompson, Armie Hammer, Lakeith Stanfield and Steven Yeun. Deadline described the movie as a drama about a black telemarketer who reaches the rungs of upper management, just as his activist friends are protesting unjust labor practices, and he must choose between standing up or selling out.
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