The Jimmy Kimmel opening monologue at the 96th Academy Awards 2024 (alias Oscars 2024) was a good culmination of the ghosts of previous Oscar hosting monologues. The blokes at 9PMMovies did wonder if AI had two automated hands, two invisible feet and big, bulging pair of big data buttocks in its writing. If yes, that’s not good news for up-at-arms Hollywood writers.
The Jimmy Kimmel opening monologue was certainly one of the smoothest ones in years. Kimmel had a touch of the been there, done that ease, he exuded gravitas, and a weathered charm.
Here is a gift bag of ten funny Jimmy Kimmel jokes from the Oscars 2024:
Ten – The ironical Barbie snub-gate: Greta Gerwig, director of the 2023 fantasy comedy Barbie was snubbed at Oscars 2024. Kimmel made amends by hailing Gerwig for 2023’s biggest blockbuster. Margot Robbie, also snubbed for the title role, was celebrated in the opening scenes of the Oscars 2024 broadcast.
Kimmel’s monologue started with him placed in a scene from Barbie. Barbie (Margot Robbie) seemingly looks at Kimmel and utters, “You are beautiful,” to which Kimmel replies in a deadpan repartee,” I know! I just have been thinking that.”…and words to that effect. Kimmel walks off from the scene, cut to his physical appearance on the Oscars stage.
The understated tongue-and-cheek touch was a great start to the much-flayed Oscars telecast.
Nine – The Ryan Gosling man love: The turn of Kimmel calling Ryan Gosling, “so hot,” was pitch perfect. Kimmel followed it up with an outrageous but good natured, “Let’s go camping together and not tell our wives.” Balanced, tone-perfect award ceremony hosting.
Eight – Christopher Nolan beating porn urges: Kimmel kept at the man love, by hailing Nolan as, “The most attractive man,” then moving on to Christopher Nolan’s lifestyle of keeping no smartphones, no emails, and not having internet on his computer. The Kimmel punchline followed, “…which is a powerful way of saying – I will not allow my porn addiction to get in the way of my work.”
Seven – Dubious clapping for Greta Gerwig: Kimmel started the show by hailing Barbie director Greta Gerwig, which led to the audience applauding for her. Kimmel retorted with a pointed gesture, “I know you are clapping but you are the ones who didn’t vote for her, by the way. Don’t act like you had nothing to do with this.”
Six – Getting high with Robert Downey Jr.: Ricky Gervais had first joked savagely on Downey’s drug-troubled past before introducing him on stage at The Golden Globes, years ago. Downey had saved the day then with a witty retort.
Kimmel’s take on Downey’s troubled past was a watered-down, clearly rehearsed version. It still had its moments, thanks to Downey’s reactions.
Five – Namesake and wordplay: The director of the Emma Stone starrer Poor Things is Yorgos Lanthimos and the editor – Yorgos Mavropsaridis – Both were nominated in their categories for the 2024 Academy awards.
Yup, common first names are a no brainer for jokes. The Kimmel delivery, “Will they both win? ‘Yorgos’ is as good as mine,” met with groans and moans from the audience, with a trail of selective laughter.
Four – Playing on the Oedipus complex:Â The most daring joke for the evening was reserved for Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper. Again, clearly rehearsed, Kimmel picked up on Cooper taking his mother along to every award function. He then plays up on the controversial 1899 Sigmund Freud’s Oedipus Complex theory to Cooper. The joke again plays in a good-natured family audience way, thankfully nothing creepy.
Three – Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster: Kimmel banks on some incredible trivia for setting up this joke. De Niro and Foster were Oscar nominated in 1976 for their performances in Martin Scorsese’s breakthrough drama Taxi Driver. Forty-eight years later, cut to 2024, Robert De Niro was nominated for ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role,’ another Scorsese true-life inspired slow burner, Killers of the Flower Moon. Jodie Foster was nominated for ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’ for the sports drama Nyad.
Foster was barely 14 in 1976. Kimmel quipped, “In 1976, Jodie Foster was young enough to be Robert De Niro’s daughter. Now, she is 20 years too old to be his girlfriend.”
Laughter in the audience.
Two – Murder hornets and Lily Gladstone: Lily Gladstone made history as the first Native American to be nominated for an Oscar.
Apparently, before getting cast into Killers of the Flower Moon, Lily was set to give up acting. According to Kimmel, she was set to join the Department of Agriculture in helping track Murder Hornets (Asian giant hornets). Lily gave a ‘yes, maybe’ gesture to Kimmel’s query of “Right?” Kimmel hits the floor with, “…and now she is nominated for an Oscar, which is so great, but also makes me worried that no one’s tracking these Murder Hornets.”
One – ‘Achievement in Casting’: Jimmy Kimmel was at his seasoned best, when he announced that the academy will be adding a new category next year – ‘Achievement in Casting.’ When the audience readily applauded Kimmel quipped, “Yeah you better applaud for that.”
Kimmel then goes into his best flourish of the evening, “…and that is a great news for actors, for now not only will you be able to watch someone win an Oscar for a part you didn’t get…you will also be able to watch the person who you didn’t think were right for it, win one too.” Classic Kimmel, keeping the beats and rhythms of delivery to triumphantly get the verbose joke right.
Afterword: Hosting, Jimmy Kimmel and the Oscars
Jimmy Kimmel has already hosted the Oscars four times since his first appearance in 2017. Kimmel had quipped on his first time, “This is my first time here, and the way you people go through hosts, it’s probably my last time here.”
Will Kimmel get another shot at hosting the Oscars? Your guess is as good as mine. This year, at Oscars 2024, he did show he has settled into a nice groove, fourth time hosting.
The bonus Jimmy Kimmel funny punch line: A part of the audience stood up to applaud when Jimmy Kimmel walked on the stage to begin the proceedings at the Oscars 2024, caused Kimmel to blurt, “Thank you for that partial standing ovation.”
(Article by Snehith Kumbla)
