Do you know how long it has been since a woman hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards? Nine years.

Do you know how long it has been since a black woman hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards? 24 years.

Last year, after Kevin Hart pulled out of the event, the Television Academy made the divisive decision to go without a host at all, for the first time in 30 years. Many thought this would prompt a cultural refresh for the archaic award format, but as 2020 rolled around and Jimmy Kimmel took to the stage for the fourth time in a decade, it seems that the Emmys decided to stick to its historic and sexist biases.

For all the change the Emmys have gone through in the past 70-odd years (I mean, they’ve even ticked ‘virtual award show’ off their list!), this seems to be one habit they just can’t quite kick. Last night’s event was, and continues to be, overwhelmingly white and male.

While much of the conversation is primarily focused on standout performances, red carpet moments and Friends reunions, there’s a huge issue that we need to address.

There have only been three female solo hosts in the show’s 72-year history: Angela Lansbury in 1993, Ellen DeGeneres in 2005 and 2001, and Jane Lynch in 2011. Even Oprah was unceremoniously sandwiched between Michael J. Fox and Paul Reiser.

I repeat: Oprah! Who would dare? Seldom are prominent women in Hollywood trusted to go it alone.

How is it that after so many years, homogeneousness still prevails? Lest we forget when Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted the 71st Annual Golden Globes. The night’s event drew the biggest audience for the annual show in a decade with an average of 20.9 million viewers.

But the truth is, women shouldn’t have to smash ratings to be given a chance, because that certainly hasn’t stopped the men — and the Television Academy know it.

Shouldn’t we be at the point where an entire gender shouldn’t wait around to get the chance to host just one awards ceremony ever few years or so? Well apparently not, because the 2021 Emmys host has already been announced and – yup, you guessed it – it’s a…white…male.

No offense to either Kimmel or Colbert, but it might be best if they stepped aside. It’s time that the male-dominated group of Emmys gatekeepers wave their white flag and start diversifying.