The 2013 ESPYS will be hosted by actor Jon Hamm, widely celebrated for his role as Don Draper on AMC's award-winning series Mad Men. The announcement was Made during Hamm's appearance this morning on LIVE with Kelly and Michael. Hamm has earned numerous accolades for his performance on the series including a Golden Globe Award, Television Critics Association Award and a Critics' Choice Television Award, as well as multiple Emmy and Screen Actors Guild nominations. The 2013 ESPYS will be televised live Wednesday, July 17, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPNHD from Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles.
Hamm will be joined by an all-star lineup of top athletes and entertainers to celebrate the best sports stories of the last year, leading fans through the year's best plays, biggest upsets and most outstanding performances across all sports. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Hamm considers himself a passionate sports fan and he fervently follows the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Blues, as well as the NFL. Hamm played in the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Games in 2009 (St. Louis) and in 2012 (Kansas City), where he played third base next to his childhood idol Ozzie Smith.
"The ESPYS is designed to showcase the year's best sports moments in a sharp, fun and entertaining manner and Jon's the perfect host for this year's show. His appearances on shows like
30 Rock and SNL show that humor and creativity are two of his main strengths," said Maura Mandt, the show's executive producer. "The combination of Jon's dry wit with his passion for sports will give fans a unique and original view of the year in sports."
"I'm very excited to be hosting the ESPYS. As a longtime sports fan and a marginally successful high school athlete I feel my skill-set jibes well with a host's duties," said Hamm. "I now have to figure out what cleats to wear with a tuxedo."
This summer, Hamm will film the baseball drama Million Dollar Arm (
Walt Disney Pictures and Mayhem Pictures) about a disillusioned sports agent who seeks professional pitching talent through the staging of a
Reality Show in India. Last year, Hamm starred in and produced Friends with Kids for writer/director/star
Jennifer Westfeldt. His previous film credits include Bridesmaids with
Kristen Wiig,
Ben Affleck's The Town,
Zack Snyder's fantasy thriller Sucker Punch, Howl with
James Franco, and Shrek Forever After, in which he voiced the character Brogan. On the television side, Hamm's appearances on the comedy
30 Rock have earned him three Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, and he has hosted
Saturday Night Live three times to critical-acclaim.
As previously announced, The 2013 ESPYS will recognize the strength and courage of Good Morning America anchor
Robin Roberts by honoring her with this year's Arthur Ashe Courage Award. The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is presented each year to individuals whose contributions transcend sports. A selection of past honorees include: Jim Valvano (1993); Howard Cosell (1995);
Muhammad Ali (1997);
Billie Jean King (1999); former president Nelson Mandela (2009) and women's basketball coach Pat Summitt (2012).
The ESPYS
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. The 2013 ESPYS marks the shows 21st telecast and will recognize both sport-specific achievements, such as "Best MLB Player" and "Best WNBA Player," and best-in-sport winners, such as "Best Team" or "Best Female Athlete" that pit nominees from different sports against each other. The ESPYS honor ESPN's commitment to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a partnership launched with the late Jim Valvano at the inaugural ESPYS in 1993.
This year, sports fans will determine the winners in all ESPYS categories, except the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and other special awards. Fans can vote before and during the live show as follows:
· June 28th through July 17th at 9 p.m. ET: Voting will be open for all categories online at ESPN.com/ESPYS
· During the show on July 17th (starting at 9 p.m. ET): Voting for Best Team will be open only on Twitter. Fans can vote during the show using hashtag #ESPYSBestTeam and the team name.
For additional ESPYS news and information, please follow our official ESPYS Twitter handle: @ESPYS.
Tickets to The 2013 ESPYS will be available for public purchase at AXS.com beginning in late May.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos
