Jimmy Kimmel Takes Purpose at Absent Tom Cruise, James Cameron and ‘The Slap’ in Oscars Monologue

The late-night host joined “Prime Gun: Maverick” for a couple of scenes reverse big-screen Tom Cruise in fighter jets earlier than parachuting into the present to kick issues off with a largely delicate monologue. After one joke final 12 months triggered one nominee, it was maybe higher secure than sorry.

Sure, Kimmel did handle “the slap,” however impressively confirmed way more restraint than we anticipated, holding off on the dominant second from final 12 months’s present till the ultimate moments of his monologue. Earlier than that, he was positively tame!

His first joke was as mild as they arrive, quipping that it was good to see Nicole Kidman “has lastly been launched from that deserted AMC the place she’s been held captive for 2 full years now.” He then advised her, “Thanks for encouraging individuals who have been already on the movie show to go to the movie show.”

He identified all of the evening’s first-time nominees, taking explicit pleasure in the truth that each Brendan Fraser and Ke Huy Quan are nominated on the identical evening. Not solely are they front-runners for Greatest Actor and Greatest Supporting Actor, however they have been co-stars in 1992.

“Two actors from ‘Encino Man’ are nominated for Oscars,” Kimmel mentioned, referencing their goofy comedy. “What an unbelievable evening this have to be for the 2 of you, and what a really troublesome evening for Pauly Shore.”

He took a while to crack numerous jokes about Steven Spielberg and John Williams, each attaining Oscars historical past with their nominations. Spielberg is the primary director nominated throughout six many years, whereas Williams is the oldest-ever nominee at 91.

He bought a couple of chuckles from Spielberg after which threw in some drug humor as a result of Seth Rogen was close by, but it surely was all fairly tame. That’s, till he talked about Spielberg directing the actors portraying his dad and mom in intimate scenes. Let’s simply say, everybody had slightly little bit of a cringe.

The comic did pull out the barbs slightly bit when speaking about James Cameron and Tom Cruise. He made it a degree to publicly point out rumors Cameron opted out as a result of he wasn’t nominated for the most recent “Avatar” movie, asking, “How does the Academy not nominate the man who directed ‘Avatar’? What’s he, a girl?”

He poked enjoyable at Scientology a bit, saying Cruise with out his shirt on in “Prime Gun” is “L. Ron Hubba-Hubba,” earlier than commenting on each males being absent. “The 2 guys who insisted we go to the theater did not come to the theater,” he mentioned.

When commenting on Rihanna’s upcoming efficiency, Kimmel shared that her child pooped throughout rehearsals simply so he may ask if the viewers knew the final time somebody pooped backstage. He then went “Inside Baseball,” because it have been, by saying, “That accountant who combined up the envelopes.”

Sure, it is certainly one of Oscars’ most well-known moments, but it surely was additionally six years in the past and he supplied no additional context. For the report, “La La Land” was introduced because the winner, when in fact it was “Moonlight.” It’s a second of Oscars chaos that can go down in historical past — sort of like final 12 months’s massive second.

Kimmel hinted at “the slap” between Will Smith and Chris Rock earlier within the monologue when speaking in regards to the 5 totally different Irish performing nominees, joking that “the chances of one other struggle occurring on stage went approach up.”

Then, like Rock waited till the top of his newest stand-up particular to go all in on the notorious incident, Kimmel took a deep dive on the topic by specializing in security. Oscars applied a disaster workforce this 12 months, simply in case something like that have been to occur once more.

“If anybody on this theater commits an act of violence at any level within the present, you can be awarded the Oscar for Greatest Actor and permitted to present a 19-minute-long speech,” Kimmel joked.

He went on to name out mainly everybody, noting, “If something unpredictable or violent takes place, simply do what you probably did final 12 months. Nothing. Sit there and do completely nothing.” After a beat he added, “Perhaps even give the assailant a hug.”

He then warned the attendants that if anybody decides they’re mad and wish to rush the stage to “Get Jiggy Wit It,” they’re going to need to get by way of a complete slew of individuals, like Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed, Michelle Yeoh’s herself, “The Mandalorian” and even two Guillermo’s (Del Toro and Kimmel’s late-night sidekick).