LOS ANGELES — If only one awards show host at a time holds the "it" title, then the current darling is Neil Patrick Harris.

Harris entered the big leagues with this year's Tony Awards, using his musical theater skills and easy charm to win over the audience and critics. A phone call enlisting him as host of Sunday's Emmy Awards (8 p.m. EDT, CBS) followed — which leaves a certain movie ceremony for the hat trick.

"Tonys, Emmys, and then there's only one thing left — the Telemundo Awards," quipped Harris.

Harris, 36, who gained teenage fame in "Doogie Howser, M.D." before moving onstage to "Rent" and other plays, stars in "How I Met Your Mother" and is a best-supporting actor nominee for the CBS comedy.

Emmy executive producer Don Mischer says he has the right man for the job, one who will prove a graceful and funny host and can be entertaining in "short pops."

"He's terrific with that," Mischer said. "And because Neil doesn't feel the need to come out and hit a home run every time he makes an appearance, that frees him up to have a more consistent presence in the show. ... I think that keeps the energy of the show up."

Harris says his focus is less on himself as emcee and more on the ceremony. He asked to share producer duties for the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the downtown Nokia Theatre.

"I didn't want to walk into a situation where I was handed a script not to my liking. I wanted the ability to have a say in the structuring and creation of the show," he said. "Maybe it's the wannabe director in me, but I was way more interested in how the show was structured and not as interested in how the host is doing."

Harris also wanted to ensure he has "decent material," asking comedian-writer Paul Greenberg, a longtime friend, and writer Joe Kelly from "How I Met Your Mother" to help craft it. The sitcom's executive producers, Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, joined in.

Source: The Associated Press