AWARDS

Joey Fatone signs on for red carpet duty

The former N'Sync star plans to make "the red carpet experience entertaining, spontaneous and most of all fun."

By the Associated Press

August 21, 2007

Joey Fatone has signed on for red-carpet duty as co-host with Lisa Rinna of TV Guide Network's red-carpet coverage of major awards shows.

Their first gig together: the Emmy Awards on Sept. 16.

"Joey is a top-notch professional with a natural likeability and great sense of humor, all of which are essential attributes of a red-carpet host," said TV Guide Network President Ryan O'Hara in a statement Tuesday.

"He will be a terrific complement to Lisa, who is also incredibly charismatic and brings a wealth of fashion savvy and insight," O'Hara said.

Fatone, 30, is host of NBC's sing-along variety game show, "The Singing Bee." He was part of boy band N'Sync, and has appeared in several Broadway musicals, including "Little Shop of Horrors."

In a statement, Fatone said he plans to make "the red carpet experience entertaining, spontaneous and most of all fun -- not only for those walking the red carpet, but also for the fans watching at home."

He will co-host TV Guide's red-carpet coverage through 2008, including the Academy Awards, Golden Globe awards, Grammy Awards and Screen Actors Guild awards.

Rinna, 44, was announced as replacing Joan Rivers on the red carpet in April 2007. Rivers and her daughter, Melissa, launched TV Guide's red-carpet programming in January 2005. They had previously appeared as red-carpet hosts on E! Entertainment.

Fatone and Rinna competed on separate seasons of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

TV Guide Network is owned and operated by TV Guide Networks Inc., a subsidiary of Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.