Neil Patrick Harris Relishing Hosting Duties Ahead Of Sunday's Emmy Awards

Neil Patrick Harris will look to further his claim as a natural awards show host when he takes to the stage at the 65th Annual Emmy Awards this Sunday, 22 September. Having built up an impressive resume already as co-host of the awards in 2009 and as a four-time host of the Tony Awards, the How I Met Your Mother star needed no incentive to take on the challenge of hosting the Emmy's this year.

Harris is relishing the chance to host the Emmy's again

"I love TV and the motley crew of people that are part of it," Harris told reporters on Wednesday as the red carpet was laid out in front of Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre ahead of Sunday's ceremony. As the host of the celebration of television, you can bet that NPH had praise for the current crop of shows looking to be honoured at the awards show. He continued, in reference to the wide-ranging scope of shows up for awards, "I think that makes for a better viewing experience of television than ever, and I'm happy to be the guy in charge of honoring that."(via USA Today)

But what is it about Harris that make him such a natural when he takes to the stage? As he explained to the awaiting press at Wednesday's opening ceremony, his tendency to try out anything and everything when he was growing up worked out in his favour. He said, "I dabbled in magic and juggling and I sing some. Those are all, as it turns out, good attributes for being a host."

And having already opened up this year's Tony Awards with a widely-celebrated song and dance number, Harris has promised that there will be at least one song-and-dance number at the Emmy awards, but promised he won't just copy and paste his routine from one stage to another. As he showed at the 2012 People's Choice Awards, Harris just can't help but perform a Broadway number on stage.

The jack of all trades may have his eye set on hosting the Oscars or Golden Globes at some point

On top of any surprises that NPH has lined up, the Hollywood Reporter have since revealed that Carrie Underwood will sing a medley of music from former President John F. Kennedy's lifetime as the television awards show celebrates the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the 35th President of the United States. Following a short presentation from Don Cheadle, who will also celebrate the much-less-sombre 50th anniversary of the Beatles' first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, Underwood will be introduced on stage to sing a musical tribute to the celebrated President.

The tributes won't end with the late president though, as the traditional In Memoriam segment of the show will also feature five special tributes to fallen stars, remembered by famous faces who knew them well. James Gandolfini will be remembered by his on-screen Soprano's wife Edie Falco, while Jane Lynch will present a tribute to her former Glee co-star Cory Monteith. Michael J. Fox will celebrate the life of Family Ties creator Gary David Goldberg and Robin Williams will pay tribute to one of his mentors, the comedian Jonathan Winters. Rob Reiner will also be remembering his All in the Family mother-in-law, Jean Stapleton.

The 65th Annual Emmy Awards will air live on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT this Sunday.

The late James Gandolfini and Cory Monteith will be remembered at the awards show