Jane Lynch, who stars as Sue Sylvester in Fox's hit musical comedy series "Glee," is talking with the TV Academy about hosting the Emmy Awards, which will air on Fox on Sept. 18.
In recent years the Emmys host has typically been a star associated with the network airing the show. Because Fox has no late-night comedian and few obvious comedy candidates, there has been speculation that Emmys producer Mark Burnett might go outside the tent for a host.
The choice of Lynch would keep network synergy intact, and provide a comedienne who can sing, act and has a background in improv comedy. There is no deal with Lynch yet, and it is unclear whether she would host alone or be paired with one or more co-hosts. The host must also be approved by the TV Academy's board of governors, which meets on Wednesday night.
If she hosts alone, Lynch would only be the third woman to do so after Angela Lansbury (1993) and Ellen Degeneres (2005). Last year the show was hosted by Jimmy Fallon when it aired on NBC.
There have also been more than two dozen other women hosts, but always paired up with one or more men.
This year's telecast, the first under a new recently negotiated 8-year contract, will be produced by Burnett ("Survivor") for the first time.
Last year Lynch won an Emmy as outstanding actress in a supporting role for her work on "Glee." She was previously nominated in 2003 as a guest star on "Two And A Half Men." Earlier this year Lynch won a Golden Globe as supporting actress in "Glee" as well.
Lynch has earned outstanding reviews on "Glee" as the aggressive cheerleading coach. Her previous movie work includes roles in "Best In Show," "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Role Models."
A native of Illinois, Lynch graduated form Illinois State University and has a MFA in theater from Cornell University.