Published: September 05, 2008 12:30 am         

Griffin, Rickles paired for Emmy show

LOS ANGELES — Kathy Griffin, who shook up an Emmy ceremony last year with her rowdy acceptance speech, is bringing her act to this year’s prime-time awards show.

Griffin and Don Rickles, a comedian who’s legendary for his combative style, will team up as presenters at the Sept. 21 ceremony airing on ABC, the TV academy says.

“As we near the telecast, there will be more sets of presenters that will surprise almost everyone,” executive producer Ken Ehrlich said in a statement

Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris, who helped announce the Emmy nominations in July, will join again to present an award, the academy said Thursday.

Conan O’Brien of NBC’s “Late Night,” Christian Slater (NBC’s upcoming “My Own Worst Enemy”) and Kate Walsh (ABC’s “Private Practice”) also were included in the third set of presenters selected for the ceremony.

Broadway star Chenoweth is a nominee for ABC’s “Pushing Daisies,” while Harris received a nod for CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother.” Don Rickles earned a nomination for HBO’s “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project.”

Griffin received a nod for “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” and another for the special “Kathy Griffin: Straight to Hell,” both on Bravo.

Last year, Griffin joked about Jesus while accepting an Emmy Award for “My Life on the D-List” at the creative arts ceremony that precedes the main broadcast show. Reports of her remarks provoked criticism from some Christian groups.

This year’s creative arts ceremony will be held Sept. 13 and air on E! as a two-hour special on Sept. 20.

Previously announced presenters for ABC’s Emmy show include the stars of “Desperate Housewives,” Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

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