Kimmel explained why getting a 'naked' Cena on stage at the Oscars was no easy feat.
In his more than two decades as the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Jimmy Kimmel has become synonymous with pushing the boundaries of late-night comedy.
However, even for Kimmel, the road to getting a near-naked John Cena on stage at the Oscars for a memorable gag was fraught with potholes.
At the 96th Academy Awards, Kimmel, serving as host for the fourth time, pulled off what he described as his most scrutinized comedy bit ever. The segment involved Cena, clad only in a modesty garment covering his private areas, scooching across the stage with the envelope containing the winner for Best Costume Design covering his crotch.
But behind the scenes, Kimmel revealed a saga of meetings, emails, and intense discussions with network executives to gain approval for the risqué stunt. "No comedy bit has ever received more scrutiny than this," Kimmel admitted, emphasizing the uphill battle he faced in making the idea a reality.
According to Kimmel, there were debates over the size of the envelope, whether it needed to be Velcroed to Cena's body, and even discussions about filling certain crevices and ensuring modesty with strategically placed items. Despite the challenges, Kimmel remained determined to see the prank through, refusing to take no for an answer.
As the moment approached, Kimmel shared that network executives were terrified, reflecting the high stakes involved. "There were meetings and side meetings; there were emails and texts and phone calls," Kimmel noted. "People were sweating, somebody was crying."
However, the stunt went off without a hitch, eliciting laughter and shock from the audience.
"There were intense discussions about the size of the envelope," he explained. "And whether we needed to Velcro it to John’s body. And we had to fill his crack, and have socks, and various testicalia was discussed."
Kimmel expressed gratitude to Cena for his willingness to participate and issued a playful apology to the Department of Standards and Practices for the near-heart attack-inducing moment.
The comedian didn't miss the opportunity to address other notable moments of the evening, including a scathing post by former President Donald Trump on Truth Social, which Kimmel read aloud on stage. Kimmel quipped about Trump's thirst for attention, humorously juxtaposing the naked Cena stunt with Trump's attempt to steal the spotlight.
In the end, Kimmel reflected on the night's events, humorously concluding that despite Cena's naked appearance, Trump still managed, he said, to be the "biggest dick" of the night.
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