7 Reasons To Look Forward To Trevor Noah Hosting The 2021 Grammy Awards
Trevor Noah has been hosting his award-winning The Daily Show from his apartment in New York City since the pandemic broke in 2020 in order to stay safe. So, now that it’s relatively safe to do so, he couldn’t resist the opportunity to fly to Los Angeles to serve as host of the 63rd Grammy Awards.
Further, the event represents a return to in-person hosting, which may bode well for future awards shows in the COVID-19 pandemic-era. The ceremony is scheduled to air at 8 p.m. ET Sunday (March 14) on CBS and Paramount+, and will take place at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, according to The Associated Press.
Noah is looking forward to hosting the event, which will have a “music festival vibe,” with some performances scheduled to be held outdoors, the report says. Performers include Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, and Bruno Mars, among others.
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“What’s made it unique is that we’ve managed to make a show that is a full show for you at home,” Noah tells The AP. “When you watch it, you won’t be spending the whole time like ‘Aww man, this is a pandemic show.’ Like no, this is one of your favorite concert shows.”
He follows in the footsteps of other past hosts, including Alicia Keys, James Corden and LL Cool J.
Music artists will be socially distanced at the event, which was originally supposed to take place on Jan. 31, but was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Recording Academy, which sponsors the Grammys.
Noah described venturing out of his home and flying across the country in preparation to host the event as “amazing” and “surreal” The AP writes. He said watching rehearsals “gave him and others life.”
Here are 7 reasons to look forward to Trevor Noah hosting this year’s Grammys:
7. HE HAS A BROAD PERSPECTIVE
Noah’s thoughts and views are his own and he doesn’t hesitate to voice his opinion. Noah was born and raised in South Africa and moved to the U.S. in 2010. Comedy Central’s The Daily Show gives him a broad platform to speak out on politics. He has been in the media spotlight since the age of 18, and made his mark in his homeland as an actor before moving to comedy. At one time, he even had his own radio show, Noah’s Ark. South Africa’s most successful comedian made his way to the U.S. in 2011and in 2012, he became the first stand-up comedian from South Africa to appear on NBC’s The Tonight Show.
With all that has unfolded around the globe as a result of the pandemic, it will be interesting to see how Noah will blend his comedic-yet-serious blend to his hosting duties, which brings us to the next reason to be excited.
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Balance is essential. Noah’s mix of comedy and intellect is perfect for the Grammys. The world is still enveloped by the pandemic, but laughter is great medicine. While President Donald Trump was in office, Noah’s range of personal experiences coupled with that of a suffering nation made for not only informative watching but also one that provided laughs. After Trump’s acquittal, he told his viewers that the news should have come as no surprise.
“I get that it’s disappointing for a lot of people, but we should know this by now – this is what Trump does,” Noah says in a video clip of his show. “He wiggles his way out of accountability. Trying to hold Trump accountable for his crimes is like trying to kill a fruit fly.” Check out a clip of his take in link below:5. HE IS EXCITED TO HOST THE GRAMMYS
Noah has expressed a range of emotions about the gig, telling CBS This Morning, “I’m all the feelings: I’m nervous, I’m terrified, I’m excited, I’m ecstatic.” He goes on to say, it’s his “first time doing anything [in public] in like a year,” due to the pandemic. The Daily Show’s recording has been virtual for a year now. He joyfully talks about the production structure of this year’s awards, taking away some of his uncertainty of how the show would turn out, bringing us to another reason.
4. A SHOW DESIGNED FOR VIEWERS
The executive producer of the Grammys Ben Winston gave Noah a thorough breakdown of how the show will be executed this year. “It’s for you at home; it’s specifically designed for that,” he tells CBS. “I’m excited because they’ve done an amazing job and there’s a few surprises and a few treats that I can’t tell you about.”
3. A RETURN TO IN-PERSON HOSTING
As he stated, this will be the first time in a year that he’s been out in public for a hosting gig. He’ll be back in his element of being surrounded by the lights, camera, and live-action. “People are going to be there accepting awards,” Noah continued in CBS In The Morning interview. “I promise you, it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen.”
It will be interesting to see how Noah feeds off the energy of in-person hosting after the year-long hiatus sparked by the pandemic.2. HE HAS INTEGRITY
One of many traits Noah is known for is his integrity. As a host for the Grammys, integrity can appear in ways that are entertaining, while still holding on to morals and values. After all, it’s only entertainment, or is it? On his behalf, it will be exciting to see the angles (comments on world news, celebrities, etc) Noah uses in between award acceptances and performances.
This will likely be evident in his opening monologue, with his range of political and socially-conscious jokes to be a thrill to watch.
1. HE IS NOT NEW TO HOSTING
Sure, Noah is new to the Grammys hosting format, but he’s a veteran in the media field and will adapt; his charisma will win the crowd over. “Noah has hosted numerous television shows including South Africa’s music, television, and film awards, and two seasons of his own late-night talk show, Tonight with Trevor Noah,” as highlighted on his personal website. Noah has been in the media since adolescence and is seasoned for this role. For the final pre-pandemic episode of The Daily Show (March 12, 2020), Noah sang a farewell tribute song to the studio audience. Perhaps we’ll get a little bit of singing out of him for the Grammys.
