Neil Patrick Harris may host Emmys, though CBS won’t confirm

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Neil Patrick Harris has no Emmys on his mantle, but it looks as if he’ll be hosting the telecast come September.

Harris, who has been twice nominated as the lovable heel Barney Stinson on CBS’ comedy ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and was formerly the child lead of ‘Doogie Howser, M.D.,’ is reportedly close to a deal to emcee the 61st annual prime-time Emmy ceremony Sept. 20. Variety broke the story.

However, CBS, which is airing the Emmys, declined comment on the reports. A spokeswoman for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences referred a call to the network.

Harris won plaudits last month for his hosting gig at the Tony Awards, which included a rushed gag tune that Harris gamely sang over the closing credits.

Last year’s Emmy telecast, which featured five reality-show emcees as hosts, was savaged by critics.

-- Scott Collins