Jalen Brunson opens 78th Emmys with 'I Love TV Screens'
New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson opened the 78th Emmy Awards with a song about loving television.
He led a pre-taped performance of the original number “I Love TV Screens”, recorded ahead of time and played to launch the ceremony. The awards took place on 14 September and aired on NBC and Peacock, with Mariska Hargitay as host. Variety first reported the Brunson-led opening, while NBC listed the network and streaming home.
The opening was organised as a backstage joke. Hargitay steamed her dress on one side of the frame while Brunson steamed his Knicks jersey on the other. Small moment. Big laugh. The tape then opened out into a live continuation, with Hargitay on stage alongside dancers and extras to bring the number into the room.
Pre-taped here means filmed in advance, then played into the live broadcast. It was a straight handoff from screen to stage. No cold open monologue. The host arrived through the song.
Variety had flagged the surprise in advance in an exclusive report that Brunson was expected to open the show. That advance report held through transmission. The later report confirmed the song title and the staging after the show went out.
Brunson did not arrive as a television regular. He arrived as a champion. His Knicks ended a 53-year drought between championships with their title win this season. They sealed it by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in a five-game NBA championship series, winning the title in Game 5.
Television viewers will see more of him very soon. Brunson is set to host the season premiere of Saturday Night Live, the late-night sketch programme, on 26 September. Hargitay also prepared in public, appearing on TODAY to discuss getting ready to host the Primetime Emmy Awards. TODAY
What makes this stand out is the casting. Sports stars often present awards. Fewer open the whole evening with the opening number. Brunson sang first, then handed the night to its host.
For fans flicking between sport and favourite programmes, the link was immediate. A point guard fresh from Game 5 was suddenly singing about screens. It set a light tone before the awards themselves began.
