Jimmy Fallon to host Golden Globes

Jimmy Fallon, host of "The Tonight Show," will kick off Hollywood's annual awards season as presenter of the 2017 Golden Globes, organizers announced on Tuesday.

Fallon is a veteran of the glittering event, having handed out awards in a variety of categories, most recently in 2014. He also hosted the 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards.

The three-hour ceremony airs live on NBC from the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on January 8.

"We're thrilled to announce Jimmy as host of the 74th Annual Golden Globes," Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, said in a statement.

"This is the most spontaneous and uninhibited award show on television, and Jimmy's playful, disarming comedic brilliance makes him the ideal host to enhance and elevate the sense of fun and irreverence that's made the Golden Globes one of the premier events of the entire broadcast year."

True to form, Fallon confirmed his involvement in the awards -- organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) -- on Twitter with a mischievous swipe at Republican presidental nominee Donald Trump.

"I'm so excited to be hosting The Golden Globes in January," the comic tweeted.

"And I'm really looking forward to spending time with the Hollywood Foreign Press before Donald Trump has them all deported."

Fallon's appointment marks a departure for the awards, which have alternated between two hosting choices for the last seven ceremonies.

British comedian Ricky Gervais, master of ceremonies from 2010-12 and then again earlier this year, earned some praise for his irreverent jokes at the expense of the stars, although he was at times a polarizing presence in the room.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler presented three times from 2013.

The 2016 ceremony pulled in 18.5 million viewers in industry tracker Nielsen's live plus same day ratings.

"Jimmy Fallon is an exceptionally talented and dynamic entertainer and we couldn't be more excited that he'll be hosting the 2017 Golden Globes," said Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Lorenz Soria.

"His charm, wit and incredible spontaneity will play exceedingly well both to everyone at the show as well as the millions watching at home from around the world."