Shang Chi Star, Kim’s Convenience alum and image bank legend Simu Liu has been chosen to host the Junos for the second consecutive year.
Organizers of the ceremony celebrating Canadian music broke the news Wednesday with a surprise announcement at a CBC event at Massey Hall in Toronto.
“There are no words to describe the incredible energy that gripped Toronto last spring and I look forward to helping bring that to Edmonton,” Liu said in a statement. “If you thought my interpretation of Complicated was good, wait till you hear my Nickelback cover.”
Liu first presented the awards last year at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage, the Junos’ first outdoor show, planned as such to combat possible pandemic-related restrictions.
In 2020 and 2021, the awards experienced COVID-related disruptions that forced them to cancel first, then later move to a virtual event.
Simu Liu performs Complicated Parody at the 2022 Juno Awards
With Liu as host, the beleaguered music showcase seemed to come back to life. Dance alongside Regina’s Tesher for a rendition of her tune Baby Jalebisinging a parody version of Avril Lavigne Complicated while accompanying himself on guitar and opening the show with an updated reading of Molson’s iconic “I Am Canadian” beer commercial, Liu’s charisma managed to make the show a mixed success, despite the previous pandemic hiccups.
It’s no small feat after the Junos’ COVID struggles – and a series of some of the most difficult years to awards shows in general — left many wondering if the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the awards’ parent organization) might put on a show.
Familiar faces from the Juno Awards
Liu is far from the first host to return for a second consecutive year. Six others have hosted the Junos twice in the ceremony’s more than five-decade history – five of them in the awards’ first 20 years (not counting broadcaster George Wilson, who has hosted the original non-televised version of the ceremonies from 1970 to 1974).
After singer Paul Anka hosted the first public screening in 1975, comedian David Steinberg followed as host in 1977 and 1978. The Guess Who’s Burton Cummings took over for the next two years – then, after a single year off, he hosted again in 1982 and 1983 (the last time alongside actor Alan Thicke).
After hosting with a number of other celebrities in 1981, Andrea Martin co-hosted with her SCTV co-stars Joe Flaherty in 1984 and then Martin Short in 1985. Comedian Howie Mandel took over as host for the next two years, then – after a gap of more than 20 years – comedian Russell Peters became the next personality to host back-to-back, in 2008 and 2009.
Liu’s return as host also marks the return of the tendency for non-musicians to support the awards on their own personal fame. While comedians and actors often took center stage during the Junos’ early years, the awards have been hosted almost entirely by musicians in the 21st century.
The only famous performers outside the worlds of comedy or music to do a show as a host during this time, Pamela Anderson in 2006 and William Shatner in 2012, had performances that were mostly stale. .
This year’s ceremony will take place in Edmonton, broadcast from Rogers Place on Monday, March 13. This is only the second time Edmonton has hosted the awards, the first time in 2004 when Alanis Morissette was the host.
The Junos will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC-TV, CBC and Gem, and worldwide on CBCMusic.ca/junos and on CBC Music’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.
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