Jimmy Kimmel poked fun at Cuba Gooding Jr., Kit Harington. O.J. Simpson and Dame Maggie Smith while hosting the Emmy Awards last night (18.09.16).
The 48-year-old TV presenter made quips about several stars as he presented the ceremony for the second time, after previously fronting the show in 2012, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, including a number of jokes about ‘The People v O.J. Simpson’, which received multiple nods.
Jimmy joked Cuba Gooding Jr. did such a good job playing the former American footballer in the drama series about the ex-sportsman’s murder trial, for which he was found not guilty, that he thought the actor himself had committed the crime.
The ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ host said: "He played O.J. so well, I now believe Cuba may have done it."
He also joked about O.J’s white Bronco car, which he was driving during a 90-minute police chase broadcast by news helicopters, and HBO drama series ‘Game of Thrones’, which won 12 Emmys and broke the record for the most ever won after being awarded its 39th.
Jimmy quipped: "If your show doesn’t have a dragon or a White Bronco in it, go home now."
The TV presenter turned his attentions to Game of Thrones’ hunky actor Kit – who plays Jon Snow in the show – by joking that he enjoys pleasuring himself while watching the actor in action.
He said: "Television has the ability to make us laugh and cry and during certain key parts of ‘Game of Thrones’, masturbate.
"Hi Jon Snow, you’re my freebie you know. I’m so glad they brought Jon Snow back to life."
At one point, Jimmy shocked the audience by announcing Bill Cosby – who has been accused of a number of historic sexual assaults, which he denies – was set to take to the stage to present an award.
After Jimmy had left the stage to make way for Bill, 79, several stars, including Tina Fey, were left open-mouthed by the announcement but the host returned and joked: "Don’t worry, he’s not really here. I just wanted to see what you guys would do."
He poked fun at ‘Downton Abbey’ star Maggie for not attending the previous Emmys she won three gongs in – and minutes later she picked up her fourth, an Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama prize for her role as the Dowager Countess.
Jimmy joked: "If we call your name and you’re not here to accept, the Emmy goes to the next name on the list. It’s called the ‘Maggie Smith rule’.
"This year she had a Sunday ceramics class she couldn’t miss. She goes to other awards shows. She showed up at the Tonys, she goes to the Soul Train awards every year – she’s Downton Absence."
As well as mocking TV series ‘Transparent’, which tells the story of a family with a transgender family, by saying, "’Transparent’ was born a drama, but it identifies as a comedy," he also made reference to the Emmys’ diversity, in a dig at the Oscars.
He said: "Here in Hollywood, the only thing we value more than diversity is congratulating ourselves on how much we value diversity.
"The Emmys, they’re so diverse this year, the Oscars are telling people we’re one of their closest friends.
"If you are a person of colour in our audience tonight, especially if you’re a nominee, please find a white person.
"It shouldn’t be hard, I see a bunch of them, please reach out and say, thanks for your bravery."
Earlier this year, the Academy Awards was slammed for its lack of diversity among the nominees.
Jimmy Kimmel pokes fun at OJ Simpson during Emmys
