Highlights of the ‘Glee’ star’s hosting gig include big opening number and ‘Entourage’-skewering joke. By John Mitchell Jane Lynch hosts the 2011 Emmys Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images Jane Lynch opened the 63rd Emmy Awards with an elaborate musical number that took her on a journey into the some of the biggest shows on television. The “Glee” scene-stealer kicked off the pre-taped piece by meeting with the “President of Television,” played gamely by “Star Trek” icon Leonard Nimoy. All of television secretly lives in one building, Nimoy explained, and Lynch decided to take a trip through several shows, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Parks and Recreation” while singing and dancing alongside stars like “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson, Andy Richter, Eric Dane and many more. “But they hardly let you sing on ‘Glee,’ ” Nimoy joked. Lynch assured him she’d be lip-synching. A highlight of the number was her visit to the world of “Mad Men,” during which she informed the stars of the swinging ’60s drama of some major changes ahead and even hit on Elisabeth Moss’ character Peggy with a winking promise of same-sex marriage. The love-fest ended fast, however, when she let it slip in front of ad man Don Draper that in the future, people often fast-forward through commercials. Lynch’s Sue Sylvester even found herself on the receiving end of a slushy, something her “Glee” villain is more accustomed to dishing out than taking, before hitting the stage live accompanied by dancers. “Try doing that in triple Spanx,” she deadpanned. Her monologue was brief, just a few nods to the likes of Jon Hamm and “Boardwalk Empire” director Martin Scorsese, and one playful jab at TV legend Betty White, who Lynch joked was “the reason we start the show at 5 p.m.” She then introduced the Emmytones, a singing band of jokesters that included Zachary Levi, Cobie Smulders, Taraji P. Henson, Kate Flannery, Wilmer Valderrama and Joel McHale. Lynch brought her signature playful-but-occasionally biting humor to the gig, but never ventured into the more cutting territory that garnered Ricky Gervais controversy at this year’s Golden Globes — except perhaps for a slight dig at Gervais himself. After a edit-heavy, pre-taped segment featuring the British “Office” star, Lynch said, “Poor little Ricky Gervais. Someone didn’t get enough hugs from mommy and somehow it’s Hollywood’s fault.” Otherwise, the actress was all about keeping it funny. When Lynch lost to “Modern Family” star Julie Bowen in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category, she joked about the sad-sack things she’d be doing if she didn’t have to host the rest of the show and later referred to the ceremony as the ” ‘Modern Family’ Awards.” Lynch also set her playful sights on New Jersey for a faux news story on the state’s emergence as a force in television. Newsman Anderson Cooper introduced the investigative piece, with Lynch playing Donatella Albeghetti Mangiana D’Borgia, the woman behind the success of every Jersey-centric TV show, including “Jersey Shore.” We even got a little backstory on our favorite “Shore” stars and learned that D’Borgia plucked young Nicole Polizzi from obscurity as a Harvard undergrad to create the superstar we now know as “Snooki.” “Watch out, Hollywood, ’cause Jersey is taking over,” D’Borgia warned. (As if we didn’t know that already.) The hostess’ best line of the night came at the expense of the bro-heavy cast of “Entourage.” From the audience, Lynch introduced the guys, saying, “A lot of people are curious why I’m a lesbian. Ladies and gentlemen, the cast of ‘Entourage.’ ” Lynch closed the night simply, scolding viewers more interested in tweeting about the show than actually watching it and offering a sincere thank you as the credits rolled after “Modern Family” won Best Comedy Series. What did you think of Jane Lynch’s hosting job? Let us know in the comments below! Related Videos 2011 Emmys Highlights Related Photos Stars Light Up The Emmy Awards Red Carpet
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Jane Lynch Focuses On The Funny As Emmys Host
