Justin Timberlake makes history as first 'SNL' host to win Emmy

Six-time Grammy champ Justin Timberlake added a second Emmy to his shelf with his win as guest actor in a comedy series for hosting "Saturday Night Live." In the first year that "SNL" hosts could contend for guest performer, Timberlake was the only one of the 22 to nab a nod.

The odds were against the 28-year-old Timberlake in this category. The guest acting awards have become the Emmy equivalent of the lifetime achievement honors. Indeed, the only guest comedy actor winner younger than him is 2005 champ Bobby Cannavale who was 34 when he prevailed for a recurring role on "Will & Grace."

Timberlake's competition included TV icon Alan Alda, 73, who has already amassed 32 Emmy nominations over the years. He won two lead actor Emmys for "M*A*S*H" as well as trophies for writing and directing that classic comedy series. More recently, Alda won the supporting actor in a drama series Emmy for his work on "The West Wing" in 2006. He was one of three actors nominated this year for guest starring on "30 Rock."

Beau Bridges, 67, contended for his work as the beloved handyman on the 100th episode of "Desperate Housewives." From his previous 11 nominations, Bridges has won three Emmys: lead actor in a movie/mini in 1992 for "Without Warning: The James Brady Story" and two supporting wins in the movie/mini race for "The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom" (1993) and "The Second Civil War" (1997).

Steve Martin, 64, also hosted "SNL" this season but earned his first acting nomination for an appearance on "30 Rock." He won a writing Emmy in 1969 as part of the team on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" and contended twice more as a writer in the 1970s and then again for his performance as the host of the 2001 Oscars.

Jon Hamm was the third "30 Rock" nominee. A decade older than Timberlake, Hamm contends next Sunday as a repeat nominee in lead actor, drama for "Mad Men."

And Timberlake is also in the race for another Emmy next Sunday with two songwriting bids for his efforts on "Motherlover" – a titillating tune he wrote for "SNL" – and the anthem "I Love Sports" penned for the 2008 Espy Awards. Timberlake won an Emmy in 2007 for his work on that devilish ditty "... in a Box" that went from "SNL" Digital Short to YouTube viral sensation.

This year, Justin Timberlake's competition in the songfest includes Oscar winner Paul Williams ("Evergreen") for "I Wish I Could Be Santa Claus" from "A Muppets Christmas," the team behind Hugh Jackman's socko opening number at the Oscars, a comic carol from "A Colbert Christmas," and a second successive bid by the crew at "The Flight of the Conchords."