“A Hug Moment” Would Have Stopped Oscar Slap – Deadline

In just a few days Kenan Thompson will host his first Primetime Emmys present, however he’s not afraid of an ‘Oscar slap’, he says.

Speaking at an Emmy preview occasion in LA on Wednesday evening, the SNL comedian mirrored on the notorious bodily conflict between Oscars host Chris Rock and Will Smith, and on the pitfalls of ‘roasting’ at awards exhibits basically.

“I think a good comic is supposed to be aware,” Thompson stated. “I mean I’m not calling Chris a bad comic, he just wasn’t necessarily aware of that situation, so it’s not fair to lump him into that conversation. But overall those kind of roast-y kind of people, you have to be smart, because you know, there’s a way to jab at people without offending, like for real for real. I don’t think offense necessarily gets us anywhere as a society.”

In July Smith posted an apology video on-line, however final weekend, throughout a stand-up present in London, Rock in contrast that recording to a “hostage video”. In Thompson’s opinion, that (actually) show-stopping second may have doubtlessly been shortly resolved .

“I feel like a hug moment would have stopped all of that, you know what I’m saying?” Thompson stated. “But it was so unfathomable that [Rock] didn’t know that was even coming. He would have never in his wildest dreams have imagined his friend of 30-plus years would attempt some s**t like that.”

When he takes the stage on the Microsoft Theater on Monday evening, for the Emmys’ first return to that venue because the pandemic, Thompson intends to verify all people will get—and enjoys—the joke.

“You know, I’m not going out there like hurting anybody’s feelings for the sake of other people laughing,” he stated. “We’re supposed to all be laughing together, even that person the joke is about.”

“This being a roasting opportunity kind of night, a lot of people expect to hear that,” Thompson added. His method, he says, might be “more so about the zeitgeist about what’s going on, maybe like the jokes are about the shows or the different platforms. Because it’s bigger than a famous person who’s having a moment, because it’s a room full of famous people.”

Monday’s present will see a return to the up to date ‘dinner-party’ vibe of final yr, solely this time, government producers Reginald “Reggie” Hudlin and Ian Stewart, who’re returning for the third and fifth time respectively, stated will probably be on a way more expanded, immersive scale.

They additionally introduced that John Legend can be performing his new tune “Pieces” for the ‘In Memoriam’ section.

The three-hour, reside telecast will start Monday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and also will stream on Peacock.