Oscars 2023: Jimmy Kimmel Blasts Hollywood With Jokes About Will Smith, Ozempic, & More!

David Letterman is curious about a missing nominee during Sunday night’s Oscars.

up two million viewers from the previous year (the year of “the slap”) to a total 18.8 million viewers. They brag about the 13% uptick before launching into how (and I’m guessing here), somewhere in Idaho, six 17-year-olds watched the show for an average of two minutes, which resulted in the audience being 0.25% younger.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large On Sunday, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” appeared to be everything, everywhere, all at once. The film, of course, dominated the 95th Oscars with seven wins — including best picture. Virtually all the stars (except Stephanie Hsu — hey Daniels, can you spare one of your SIX Oscars and share one with her??) received wins, on what was truly a historic night. And an emotional one. As the opening clips of this week’s Variety Awards Circuit Podcast illustrates, family was on the minds of this year’s winners. Listen to our Mega Roundtable edition, in which Clayton Davis, Jenelle Riley, Jazz Tangcay and myself (that’s me, Michael Schneider) recount the show and dissect the winners — from Jimmy Kimmel’s excellent monologue to how every single category panned out:

Zack Sharf Digital News Director David Letterman visited “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and had a burning question for the host, who recently earned great reviews for his stint hosting the 2023 Oscars. “Here’s something that’s a little sensitive: Tom Cruise,” Letterman said. “Where was Tom Cruise?” Despite “Top Gun: Maverick” earning six Academy Award nominations and Cruise being a nominee for best picture as one of the film’s producers, the A-list star skipped the 2023 ceremony. Reports surfaced ahead of the show that Cruise was too busy shooting the “Mission: Impossible” sequel in Italy to attend, but the actor popped up in London two days after the Oscars to attend Michael Caine’s 90th birthday party. Cruise also showed up at the Oscars Nominees Luncheon in February.

With the help of spot-on impersonator Nelson Franklin, Jimmy Kimmel played quite a montage making fun of Congressman “Curious George” Santos’ reelection filing Wednesday night. After announcing that Santos had filed paperwork indicating his plans to run for reelection in 2024, the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” host introduced the “first of many ads announcing this campaign.”“Times are tough. Money is tight.

Denise Welch prompted raucous laughter during Sir Michael Caine’s 90th birthday celebrations with a risque joke. The Loose Women panellist, 64, joined Hollywood star Tom Cruise and Mission: Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie at the River Cafe in west London. Other guests included David Walliams, who worked with Sir Michael on the 2021 crime drama Twist, and impresario Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Seth Rogen is recalling his unique introduction to Meghan Thee Stallion.

“Top Gun: Maverick” actor was noticeably absent from the 2023 Academy Awards on Sunday, despite the blockbuster film being nominated for six awards.But as the celebrities got suited and booted for Hollywood’s biggest night, Cruise headed across the pond to attend Caine’s birthday celebration in the UK.Joining the likes of comedian David Walliams and Caine’s wife, Shakira, 75, Cruise was snapped grinning at an intimate dinner for the big day.“Happy 90th Birthday to the legendary Sir Michael Caine,” Walliams wrote on Instagram alongside a series of pictures from the dinner.Caine appeared to be healthy and in good spirits as he continues to recover from major spinal surgery to treat spinal stenosis — a condition caused by the narrowing of the spinal canal, resulting in back and neck pain.The two-time Oscar winner, who relies on the help of a walking frame, previously spoke out about his back issues in 2021 — sparking speculation that he was set to retire.Other snaps from his birthday showed Cruise wrapping his arm around the veteran actor as Walliams joined them for a snap.The scaled-back affair featured a handful of A-listers including celebrity chef Ruth Rogers and an appetizing chocolate cake and a lot of red wine.Cruise was MIA at Sunday’s ceremony because he reportedly wanted to avoid an “awkward run-in” with his ex-wife Nicole Kidman, 55, whom he divorced more than 20 years ago.“Tom was not there because she was there, and he did not want a run-in,” a source told the Daily Mail on Monday.But insiders close to Cruise told the outlet that his absence was “not personal” and instead the result of scheduling issues.The Post has contacted representatives for Cruise and Kidman for comment.The prolific duo married on Dec.

Tom Cruise was notoriously absent from the Academy Awards. The actor, who starred and produced “Top Gun: Maverick,” has had a big year, earning six nominations for his film. According to a news report, he reportedly skipped out on the event to avoid a run in with his ex wife Nicole Kidman.Tom Cruise invited to big royal event this year: ReportDiego Boneta says Tom Cruise was like his mentor; does hilarious impressionThe Daily Mail reported that Cruise wanted to avoid an awkward run in with his ex at all costs.

Vanessa Hudgens seemingly reacted to her super awkward run-in with her ex Austin Butler and OMG!

When banks start crashing in the US, celebrities stop selling sunset and start selling sand!

been a yearsince Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars — and the banned actor’s award still doesn’t have his name on it. Janet Yang, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, told The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast that Smith, 54, may be prohibited from the show or any Academy events for nine more years, but he’s still welcome to get his nameplate engraved onto his Best Actor trophy. “He earned the Oscar.

There’s more where that came from!

Tom Cruise because the actor decided not to attend the ceremony, Oscars producers have admitted.Kimmel was the host of the 95th iteration of the Oscars on Sunday (March 12). The comic opened his the show with a monologue in which he poked fun at Avatar director James Cameron, last year’s Will Smith slapping incident and a dig at the poor box office performance of Babylon.The late-night TV host also couldn’t help but alert the audience to the fact that Cruise, whose Top Gun: Maverick received six nominations, was not in attendance.

Oscars red carpet.The actor made a point of directing photographers’ attention to the rabbit while he was at the event on Sunday (12 March). The tiny rabbit toy generated a flurry of questions both from the public watching and, indeed, the press pack at the event.Nighy, who was nominated in the Best Actor category for his role in Living, has now revealed that the tiny bunny is in fact his granddaughter’s beloved toy.

EXCLUSIVE: Vanessa Hudgens is set to reprise her role as weapons expert Kelly in Bad Boys 4 with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

Pauly Shore can still take a joke.

Addressing the drama. Vanessa Hudgens seemingly reacted to her awkward encounter with her ex-boyfriend Austin Butler after the 2023 Oscars.

@TheAcademy Awards. Pardon the helmet hair.

The Sorvino family is not pleased with the Oscars.

Jimmy Kimmel poking fun at him during his Oscars monologue on Sunday and gave heartfelt congratulations to his old Encino Man co-stars, Brendan Fraser and Ke Huy Quan, both of whom won on Sunday.«I don't know if you guys saw @TheAcademy Awards last night, but @jimmykimmel poked fun at me in the monologue,» Shore tweeted on Monday. «I loved it.»He added, «But what I REALLY loved is that my old buddies from back in the day, Brendan Fraser and Ke Huy Quan, took home the Oscars! Never quit on your dreams.»I don’t know if you guys saw the @TheAcademy Awards last night, but @jimmykimmel poked fun at me in the monologue.

Ke Huy Quan's not ready to stop celebrating Oscar triumph just yet. As Jimmy Kimmel recapped this year's Oscars gala during his opening monologue on  on Monday, Quan dropped in for a high-energy surprise visit.Kimmel — who hosted Sunday's star-studded show — recalled some of the night's biggest (and most hilariously awkward) highlights, when he was paid a visit by Quan, still decked out in his tuxedo and holding his coveted golden statue.«I didn't know you were coming, what are you doing here?» Kimmel asked, beaming.«I'm looking for my car,» Quan replied, explaining that he was still up from the night before.

Oscars has revealed that a number of Will Smith jokes were cut from Jimmy Kimmel’s script.At last year’s ceremony, Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage for making a joke about the hair of his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Just moments later, Smith received the Best Actor award for his performance in King Richard.While giving his opening monologue at the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday (March 12), presenter Kimmel jokingly referenced the incident, saying: “If anyone in this theatre commits an act of violence at any point during this show, you will be awarded the Oscar for Best Actor and permitted to give a 19-minute-long speech.”However, there were additional jokes about the Smith-Rock slap that didn’t make Kimmel’s final script.Molly McNearney, an executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Kimmel’s wife, explained that the writing team decided to restrict the number of jokes about the incident, as they didn’t want to focus too much on the past.“We didn’t want to make this year all about last year,” McNearney told Variety.“I cannot tell you how many Will Smith jokes we had that then we got rid of.

Jimmy Kimmel’s wife, Molly McNearney, says her husband took it easy on Will Smith at the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday.Kimmel hosted Hollywood’s biggest night at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, one year after Smith slapped Chris Rock onstage in response to Rock making a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.McNearney, an executive producer for this year's Oscars, tells  why her husband didn’t go «harder» on Smith. «We didn't want to make this year all about last year,» McNearney explains. «I cannot tell you how many Will Smith jokes we had that then we got rid of. We think that only the best for that room made it.

Not every joke about Will Smith made it into Jimmy Kimmel’s big monologue.

“We didn’t want to make this year all about last year,” McNearney, 45, told Variety. “I cannot tell you how many Will Smith jokes we had that then we got rid of.

Ke Huy Quan's not ready to stop celebrating Oscar triumph just yet. As Jimmy Kimmel recapped this year's Oscars gala during his opening monologue on  on Monday, Quan dropped in for a high-energy surprise visit.Kimmel — who hosted Sunday's star-studded show — recalled some of the night's biggest (and most hilariously awkward) highlights, when he was paid a visit by Quan, still decked out in his tuxedo and holding his coveted golden statue.«I didn't know you were coming, what are you doing here?» Kimmel asked, beaming.«I'm looking for my car,» Quan replied, explaining that he was still up from the night before.

Jimmy Kimmel has revealed who was in the Cocaine Bear suit at the Oscars on Sunday night.

Did you know that Jimmy Kimmel‘s wife Molly McNearney is one of the executive producers of his late night show Jimmy Kimmel Live? She’s now opening up about secrets from the 2023 Oscars telecast!

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large As he was lifted into the Dolby Theater rafters five minutes before the Oscars were set to begin, Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue still wasn’t locked. It couldn’t be: Several of his gags would involve pop superstar Rihanna — but it all depended on whether she’d be in her seat. “We had two versions of the monologue,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live” executive producer (and Kimmel’s wife) Molly McNearney told Variety on Monday afternoon. “One if Rihanna was in her seat, one if she was not in her seat. One if Rihanna had her baby on her lap, which she wanted to do. And one if her baby was not on her lap. A lot of our jokes were kind of at the mercy of people being in their seats.”

Will Smith was keeping a low profile while the 95th Academy Awards were taking place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday.

feels the need, the need — to stay far away from his ex-wife, Nicole Kidman. The 60-year-old “Top Gun: Maverick” actor was noticeably absent from the 2023 Oscars on Sunday, despite the movie being nominated for six awards. He reportedly was MIA because he wanted to avoid an “awkward run-in” with Kidman, 55, whom he divorced more than 20 years ago.“Tom was not there because she was there, and he did not want a run-in,” a source reportedly told the Daily Mail on Monday.But insiders close to Cruise allegedly told the outlet that his absence was “not personal” and instead the result of scheduling issues.

aired Sunday night on ABC, was viewed by an estimated 18.7 million, according to preliminary Fast National Live+Same Day numbers released Monday by ABC. That’s up 12% from last year’s show — and was a three-year high — but was still low compared to most years.The evening’s main counterprogramming, the season finale of “The Last of Us” pulled in 8.2 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max. The show began at 9 p.m.

Whether it was the lingering drama of The Slap or the prominence of blockbusters in the best picture race, a bigger audience was lured back to the Oscars this year.

Oscars since Will Smith infamously slapped Chris Rock on stage rolled around, fans and even fellow celebrities alike couldn't help but recall the shocking moment.The Academy ensured no such moment would ever happen again, even having a crisis team involved, and Will was banned from attending any Academy events for the next ten years.Chris on the other hand, is free to return, though it seems he preferred to keep his distance on the anniversary of the altercation, and not only did he not attend the Oscars – he has claimed he was however asked to host but turned it down – but he was far away from the Dolby Theater and Los Angeles too.WATCH: Will Smith apologizes to Academy after Chris Rock altercationMORE: Chris Rock's daughter Zahra breaks silence after being called 'rich and spoiled' by famous dadRight as Hollywood's biggest and most beloved stars gathered on the red – or rather champagne – carpet, the comedian was spotted across the country all the way in Miami. However, he still tuned in and watched the show, attending a watch party hosted by fellow comedian Whitney Cummings at the Four Seasons Hotel in Surfside, Florida, in partnership with Vanity Fair and injectable brand Xeomin, who Christina Aguilera recently partnered with.MORE: Who is Chris Rock's ex-wife and why did they split?In a video shared on Twitter by one of the party's attendees, Whitney is seen standing on top of the bar, shocked as Chris made his seemingly unexpected appearance.. @chrisrock just walked into the @VanityFair @XeominAesthetic #oscars #Oscars2023 viewing party in Miami and we were not prepared! @WhitneyCummings was pretty shocked as well..

BreAnna Bell Viewership was up Sunday when an average of 18.7 million viewers tuned in to see “Everything Everywhere All at Once” earn best picture honors and dominate the 95th Oscars on ABC with seven wins. That’s according to early, time zone-adjusted ratings from Nielsen, which includes out-of-home viewing — but keep in mind, that number could change when the final nationals are in. The Oscars, which repped the return of host Jimmy Kimmel for the first time since 2018, was up 12% from last year’s ratings. And according to those time-zone-adjusted fast-national numbers from Nielsen, it bested the previous year’s 3.8 rating by 5% in key adults 18-49, earning a 4.0 in the demo.