Emmy Awards: Jimmy Kimmel uses fake audience reactions for his opening monologue
Emmy Awards: Jimmy Kimmel jokes ‘Of course we don’t have an audience, this isn’t a MAGA rally’ as he targets Trump during Emmys monologue at crowdless Staples Center and jokes that Jerry Falwell is ‘into Watchmen’ after Miami pool boy scandal
- Jimmy Kimmel walked out to what appeared to be a packed house at Staples Center but it was all a ruse
- The comedian delivered typical monologue when it was revealed that he was actually all alone in the arena
- He then revealed that cardboard cutouts were put in place with several celebrities
- Jason Bateman also made a surprise performance, pretending to be a cutout of himself, before he finally left the arena
While there was no live audience in place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Jimmy Kimmel used the opportunity to make some political jokes during his opening monologue.
When Kimmel, 52, stepped onto the stage, he was greeted by what appeared to be a packed house, though it was revealed later that the audience reactions were not live.
In fact, Kimmel was delivering his monologue in front of an empty arena.
‘Of course I’m here all alone! Of course we don’t have an audience. This isn’t a MAGA rally, this is the Emmys!’ Kimmel exclaimed.
The joke came after President Donald Trump threw a series of rallies over the weekend as he battles for reelection next month.
Kimmel’s audience was instead filled with a few celeb cutouts and a surprise appearance by Jason Bateman.
Kimmel also threw a barb at other newsworthy targets, saying that TV show Watchmen would be ‘something that Jerry Falwell Jr. was into.’
It came after pool boy Giancarlo Granda claimed he had an affair with Falwell’s wife Becki and that Jerry knew about it and watched them have sex. Jerry acknowledges the affair, but vehemently denies that he participated in or knew about it.
Like prom night: The house lights came on and revealed that the arena was in fact empty, with Kimmel joking it was ‘just like prom night
Audience: While there was no live audience in place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Jimmy Kimmel threw fans for a surprise with his opening monologue
Kimmel’s opening joke about MAGA crowds came after President Donald Trump threw a series of rallies over the weekend as he battles for reelection next month
Kimmel also said that TV show Watchmen would be ‘something that Jerry Falwell Jr. was into’, after reports of his wife’s affair with a pool boy. Jerry and his wife Becki are pictured in 2018
In the opening moments of the show, there were several shots of a ‘live audience’, which was presumably from last year’s Emmys ceremony, with Kimmel beginning immediately by addressing the pandemic, stating, ‘Welcome to the Pandemmys!’
He then added that it was great to ‘see people again’ while thanking everyone – and himself – for risking everything to be there.
He then asked why they were having an awards show in the midst of a pandemic, joking, ‘Why is this the year they have to have a host?’
Kimmel added that it might seem ‘frivolous and unnecessary’ to hold the Emmys this year, though he added it’s frivolous and unnecessary ‘every other year.’
He admitted that the Emmy ceremony is not ‘important,’ adding it’s not going to ‘stop COVID or put out the fires,’ but it’s fun and ‘we need fun’ right now.
Kimmel added that through it all, television has ‘always been there’ for us,’ and that while this year might be terrible, television has ‘never been better.’
Audience: There were several shots of the ‘audience’ in the opening moments, which was presumably from last year’s Emmys ceremony, with Kimmel beginning immediately by addressing the pandemic, stating, ‘Welcome to the Pandemmys!’
Bateman: In fact, Kimmel was delivering his monologue in front of an empty arena, with a few celeb cutouts and a surprise appearance by Jason Batemen, as they revealed how the awards show will proceed in the pandemic
He also gave Norman Lear a shout-out for being the oldest Emmy winner ever at 98 years of age, which he won at the Creative Arts Emmys last week.
He also made a crack towards upstart Quibi, which he called ‘the dumbest thing to cost $1 billion, while adding that he has to show a Schitt’s Creek graphic on the screen, which he joked was indicative of how network TV is dying.
‘HBO can show us a big blue penis, no problem, I can’t say Schitt’s with a C,’ Kimmel said.
Shout-out: He also gave Norman Lear a shout-out for being the oldest Emmy winner ever at 98 years of age, which he won at the Creative Arts Emmys last week
Dumbest thing: He also made a crack towards upstart Quibi, which he called ‘the dumbest thing to cost $1 billion, while adding that he has to show a Schitt’s Creek graphic on the screen, which he joked was indicative of how network TV is dying
But the ‘audience’ reaction to one joke showed Kimmel himself laughing, showing that the shots weren’t live.
Kimmel said on stage that, ‘How can I be down there? If I’m up here that means no one is in the audience. That would mean that I’m up here all alone.’
The house lights came on and revealed that the arena was in fact empty, with Kimmel joking it was ‘just like prom night.’
He added that the Emmys took a page out of baseball’s playbook, using cardboard cutouts of celebrities, such as Regina King, Hugh Jackman, Meryl Streep and Jason Bateman, though Kimmel noticed something seemed off with Bateman’s cutout.
Kimmel said that he knew it was Bateman, though Bateman shot back, ‘Mind your business, Kimmel, big night for me.’
Kimmel said they have strict safety protocols, with Bateman saying he’s clean and he’s, ‘a big washer-upper’ but Kimmel said they had limits on how many people they can have in the building.’
Alone: Kimmel said on stage that, ‘How can I be down there? If I’m up here that means no one is in the audience. That would mean that I’m up here all alone’
Big night: Kimmel said that he knew it was Bateman, though Bateman shot back, ‘Mind your business, Kimmel, big night for me’
Building: Kimmel said they have strict safety protocols, with Bateman saying he’s clean and he’s, ‘a big washer-upper’ but Kimmel said they had limits on how many people they can have in the building’
‘No I don’t, OK? I haven’t left the house in six months, don’t send me back there. I want to be here. It’s ritzy. I want to eat shrimp with the cast of The Crown. I want Mario Lopez to ask me about my pants,’ Bateman said.
Kimmel said that he could stay if he promised to laugh at his jokes, but that was the last straw for Bateman as he called a car to pick him up.
Bateman ended his monologue by calling for a standing ovation for him, as footage from previous standing ovations was shown.
Standing O: Bateman ended his monologue by calling for a standing ovation for him, as footage from previous standing ovations was shown
