Jimmy Kimmel’s opening monologue was definitely not tight, but it wasn’t a complete catastrophe either. For the sake of the show and pacing, I appreciated that he mostly stood out of the way the rest of the evening. Yes he and John Cena had an extended bit before Best Costumes, but they both committed so fully that it was a slam dunk. I thought Kimmel’s very best moment of the night, however, was at the end. He came out just before Best Picture, with the show actually running on time (please keep the earlier start time, Academy!) to read a negative review of his hosting performance. It quickly became clear who had penned the scathing remarks. Trump ranted in his typical meandering fashion, and Kimmel clapped back in six succinct words:
Oscars host and late night funnyman Jimmy Kimmel on Sunday called out former President Donald Trump on stage after Trump insulted Kimmel and his hosting on social media.
“I was told we have like an extra minute, and I’m really proud of something and I was wondering if I could share it with you. I just got a review,” Kimmel said in the second half of the telecast, before pulling out his phone to read Trump’s Truth Social post out loud — while barely mentioning the former president and presumptive Republican nominee by name.
The post from Trump — which Kimmel read aloud — says, “Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars. His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be. Get rid of Kimmel and perhaps replace him with another washed up, but cheap, ABC “talent,” George Slopanopoulos. He would make everybody on stage look bigger, stronger, and more glamorous.”
“Blah, blah, blah, make America great again,” Kimmel continued. “Ok now, see if you can guess which former president just posted that on Truth Social. Anyone? No?”
“Well, thank you President Trump. Thank you for watching, I’m surprised you’re still — isn’t it past your jail time?” the comedian said, prompting cheers and laughs from the audience.
The evening marked Kimmel’s fourth time hosting the Academy Awards. Ahead of the show, he told CNN in an interview regarding Trump, “One of the most fun parts of my job is knowing that he hates being made fun of and making fun of him.”
“And then, every once in a while, he reminds us that he hates it and he gets mad. So, I love that. I take some pleasure in it.”
“Isn’t it past your jail time” will live on in infamy, as it should! It was the perfect little soundbite. It was crisp, it had the right rhythm, it said it all. And the moment only got better when the camera cut to Annette Bening and Jodie Foster enthusiastically relishing and applauding the quip. While I generally despair over the likelihood of Trump facing his well-earned jail time, this was just the right zinger to add a little spring in my step (as I ambled around on the first Monday of Daylight Saving trying to remember what time it was). Anyway, well-played Jimmy. Thank goodness he didn’t listen to whoever advised him not to do that bit, as he told Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos after the show. Oh, it was his wife Molly McNearney who tried to stop him! Funny for us, possibly fraught for future marital squabbles. And by the way, Kelly and Mark gifted Kimmel with… a gold Stanley cup! Emblazoned with a caricature of his face! The big dumb cup won’t stop.
Photos credit: JKP / Avalon, Avalon.red / Avalon, Getty