Jimmy Kimmel covered the 96th Academy Awards stage as the host for the fourth time, playfully pointing out director Greta Gerwig's absence in his opening monologue.
The 2024 Oscars was held Sunday in the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. Kimmel, also presented the shows in 2017, 2018, and 2023, began the broadcast by putting him inside a scene from "Barbie" in which Margot Robbie's doll emotionally tells an elderly woman she's lovely. Kimmel was excited for Dua Lipa's "Dance the Night," from the "Barbie" soundtrack.
Jimmy Kimmel's Humorous Opening Monologue
(Photo : Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
"This night is full of enormous talent and untold potential, but so was 'Madame Web,' so who knows?" Kimmel started by targeting the poorly received Marvel movie featuring Dakota Johnson.
After receiving the audience's applause, Kimmel humorously expressed gratitude for the "partial standing ovation," making a joke about the show inevitably ending "very, very late," even though it started an hour earlier this year.
Recognizing the cheers from the audience, Kimmel humorously thanked them for the "partial standing ovation," making light of the show's tendency to end "very, very late" even though it started an hour earlier this year.
Kimmel openly discussed particular omissions, especially pointing out Greta Gerwig's exclusion from the best director nominations for her movie "Barbie," which received eight Oscar nominations.
"I know you're clapping, but you're the ones who didn't vote for her, by the way. Don't act like you had nothing to do with this," Kimmel humorously chided the attendees, creating a momentarily uncomfortable atmosphere.
The host then turned his attention to nominees Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, playfully praising their genetic luck regardless of the evening's outcome.
"Even if neither one of you wins an Oscar tonight, you both already won something much more important the genetic lottery," Kimmel quipped to the co-stars, according to Business Insider.
Kimmel's Playful Jabs at Oscars
Using Gosling's connection with Eva Mendes, Kimmel playfully alluded to the movie "Brokeback Mountain," jokingly saying, "Ryan, you are so hot." Let's go camping together and not tell our wives," which elicited a shy chuckle from Gosling.
Kimmel's monologue also included jabs at the cast of Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," particularly poking fun at Robert Downey Jr.'s career highs and lows.
"Look at this guy," Kimmel remarked, "Is that an acceptance speech in your pocket or do you just have a very rectangular penis?"
The host didn't miss a beat in weaving in lighter moments, including a shout-out to Messi, the dog from "Anatomy of a Fall," who secured a seat at the Oscars, and poking fun at the lengthy runtimes of recent films.
Adding a touch of politics, Kimmel referenced Sen. Katie Britt's response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. Ending on a heartfelt note, Kimmel reflected on the impact of the actors' and writers' strikes, emphasizing the resilience of the industry amidst challenges.
Moving to a more serious note, Kimmel addressed the SAG and WGA strikes that were prominent in entertainment news in 2023. He praised those who participated in picket lines and acknowledged the crucial support of the behind-the-scenes crew.
Jimmy's speech, filled with humor and playful jabs, effectively mixed entertainment with addressing industry issues, setting the tone for the evening's events, TMZ reported.
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