Kimmel jabs Trump in Oscars opener

Trump did not have an immediate response to Kimmel’s tweet.

Beginning at 4 p.m. ET, “The Oscars: All Access” will offer exclusive coverage from the red carpet via Facebook Live. The glorious night of February 26 will feature a massive number of super celebrities, all under one roof for the event.

The political statements were kept to manageable levels, although Kimmel had a lot of good Trump jokes and the Iranian director of the Best Foreign Film boycotted and provided a prepared statement calling for worldwide unity.

Later, Kimmel mocked Trump’s fondness for Twitter, noting the president hadn’t tweeted once during the show and saying he was “worried about him”. “It’s gone. Thanks to him”.

Jimmy Kimmel also wrote #MerylSaysHi to gain the President’s attention.

It’s a reference to the long-running feud between the President and Streep, who he called “the most overrated actress in Hollywood” on Twitter after she attacked him during a Golden Globes speech past year.

But, sometimes, having those types of hard conversations can lead to understanding, and, one interaction at a time, to a greater, less divided country.

“There’s only one “Braveheart” in the room”, he said of Oscar-winner Mel Gibson, who is nominated again this year for his new film “Hacksaw Ridge”. He led a standing ovation for the “overrated” actress before adding a pointed punchline: “Nice dress, by the way”, he said. Is that an Ivanka?,’ a sly jibe at the President’s wife’s troubled fashion label, which was dumped by department store Nordstrom this month. Not too long ago, Kimmel said his big hope for the Oscars was just to see Damon lose.

And as the 89th Academy Awards – or the Oscars 2017 – kick off at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles (Sunday night, 26 February, in the United States and Monday morning, 27 February for us folks in India), there’s plenty of excitement over how the ceremony will play out.

Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel ordered for the lights to be turned down as they first entered, “so we can really surprise them”. “And that movie, Great Wall, went on to lose $80 million”. “I’ve known Matt for a longtime”.

Robert Legato, VFX supervisor, paid tribute to his co-winners – Dan Lemmon, Andrew R. Jones and Adam Valdez – for the Best Visual Effects category for The Jungle Book quoting one of the most memorable trail quotes during Trump’s campaign.

“The nominees include a story of two brothers – oh my God, you gotta be kidding me”, Damon said.

The Salesman picked up the award for Best Foreign Language Film, and as promised director Asghar Farhadi was not present to accept it.

If awards season has taught us anything, it’s that Hollywood has a lot to say about Donald Trump and his administration (and also, that Donald Trump is probably watching and listening).