AceShowbiz -

Stephen Colbert will host the upcoming 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, CBS and the Television Academy announces. It will be the 52-year-old TV host's first time hosting the annual awards ceremony and mark at least the fourth marquee kudos to be hosted by a late-night personality this year.

Stephen follows fellow late-night personality like Jimmy Fallon, who hosted the 2017 Golden Globes, Jimmy Kimmel, emceed the 2017 Academy Awards and James Corden, who hosted the 2017 Grammy Awards.

"This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period. Both in person and around the globe," Stephen says in a statement, clearly mocking recent false claims about inauguration attendance from new White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

"We're excited to kick off the new season and celebrate the top achievements in television with Stephen Colbert as host of the Primetime Emmys," says Jack Sussman, CBS Entertainment executive vp specials, music and live events, "Stephen is the ultimate master of ceremonies with award-winning creative talents, and as we've seen the past few months, he has a fearless passion for live television. We look forward to honoring television's best while entertaining audiences with the creative energy and sharp comedy of Stephen Colbert."

TV Academy chairman and CEO Hayma Washington adds, "We are thrilled that Stephen Colbert will be bringing his Emmy-winning comedic talent to hosting this year's Emmy Awards. He's a formidable showman and we are delighted to begin working with him and the entire CBS team."

The 2017 Emmys will air live on CBS from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 17 at 8 P.M. ET/5 P.M. PT. The show will go head-to-head again with NBC's "Sunday Night Football" and serve as the unofficial launch of the broadcast TV season.