Acclaimed actor and comedian Tracy Morgan has been tapped to host The 2019 Espys on ABC. Morgan will be joined by 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.
- Morgan currently stars on the critically acclaimed series The Last O.G., earned an Emmy Nomination for his work on 30 Rock and is a nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee.
- He also received an Emmy nomination for his triumphant return to Saturday Night Live, where he had previously starred for seven seasons.
- The ESPYS helps to raise awareness and funds for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, the charity founded by ESPN and the late basketball coach Jim Valvano at the first ESPYS back in 1993.
- ESPN has helped raise close to $97 million for the V Foundation over the past 26 years.
- The ESPYS will be broadcast live on ABC on Wednesday, July 10, at 8 p.m. ET from Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
What they’re saying:
- Tracy Morgan: “I am very excited to be hosting The ESPYS. I hope my Uncle Sidney Poitier is there with my biological father Tony Dorsett and my second cousin Herschel Walker. And Bo Jackson I want my two dollars back!”
- ESPYS executive producer Maura Mandt: “Tracy is effortlessly funny and deeply passionate about sports. He’s a natural choice to host The ESPYSand we’re thrilled to have him. Few people can own a room like Tracy Morgan, and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for the show.”
ICYMI – More ABC news:
- ABC has cancelled the long-running game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire after 17 years in syndication and 20 years since it premiered on the network.
- Late-night television fans will have another three years of Guillermo, Aunt Chippy, “This Week in Unnecessary Censorship” and Matt Damon jokes as ABC extends Jimmy Kimmel’s overall contract.
- ABC has said they have no plans to replace Constance Wu on Fresh Off the Boat after the actress took to twitter to share her frustration that the sitcom would be returning.