Actor Joel McHale to Host 2015 ESPYS on ABC
"Community" actor Joel McHale will host the next ESPYS in July.
— -- Comedian, actor and TV host Joel McHale will host the next ESPYS in July, McHale announced on "Good Morning America" today.
McHale, 43, is the “Community” actor who is well known for hosting “The Soup” on E!
The ESPYS –- the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award -- will be broadcast live on ABC on July 15 at 8 p.m. Eastern. The event will be held at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
This will be the award’s inaugural broadcast on ABC.
The ESPYS gather top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments and saluting the leading performers and performances. With the exception of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and other special awards, the ESPYS are voted upon by fans and experts.
The event raises more than $1 million annually for The V Foundation -- the charity founded by ESPN and the late basketball coach Jim Valvano -- to promote cancer research.
Connor Schell, senior vice president, ESPN Films and Original Content, who oversees the ESPYS, said McHale was “the perfect host.”
“Joel is an extremely talented performer, a unique voice and a huge sports fan,” Schell said in a press release.
McHale, who hosted last year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, expressed his feelings about being ESPYS host with his characteristic humor.
"I’m thrilled to be hosting The ESPYS. Just ecstatic,” McHale said in the press release. “After my stunning victory in the Iditarod this year by only using six Bichon Frises and a lamb, I think the sports world saw me as the logical host."