At Oscars 2023, host Jimmy Kimmel revisits Will Smith, Chris Rock slapgate

Jimmy Kimmel promised “ nsense” at  95th Academy Awards on Sunday as Hollywood reconvened for a ceremony that will try to move past one of  most infamous moments in Oscar history.

telecast, airing live on ABC, opened traditionally: with a mont of year’s films (with Kimmel edited into a cockpit in “Top Gun: Maverick”) and a lengthy mologue. Kimmel, hosting for third time, didn’t dive right into revisiting Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock at last year’s ceremony.

But after a number of jokes — including one that ted two stars of “Enci Man,” Ke Huy Quan and Brendan Fraser are minated — Kimmel ted that re are numerous Irish actors up for Oscars, “which means odds of ar fight on st just went way up.”

late-night comedian struggled to find lessons from last year’s incident, which was followed by Smith winning best actor. If anyone tried any violence this year, he said, “You will be awarded Oscar for best actor and permitted to give a 19-minute-long speech.”

But Kimmel said anyone who wanted to “get jiggy with it” this year will have to come through a fearsome battalion of bodyguards, including Michael B. Jordan, Michelle Yeoh, Steven Spielberg and his show’s “security guard” Guillermo Rodriguez.

night’s first award went to ar Guillermo: “Guillermo del Toro’s Picchio” for best animated film.

After several days of rain in and around Los Angeles, sun is out again for a ceremony film academy is hoping will be less stormy than last year. usually red carpet, as part of make-over, was champagned colored.

Kimmel, show’s first solo emcee in five years, is hosting for third time. He last hosted in 2018.

“body got hit when I hosted show,” Kimmel bragged tongue in cheek Thursday on “Good Morning America.” “Everybody was well-behaved at my Oscars.”

Kimmel presides over a ceremony that could see big wins for  best-picture favorite, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s action-comedy indie hit comes in with a leading 11 minations, including ds for Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan.

re were surprises before show even got started. Just days after producers had said Lady Gaga wouldn’t be performing her minated song “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick,” a person close to production with kwledge of performance confirmed Sunday afteron that  pop superstar would perform, after all.

Some big names weren’t in attendance, though. Neir Tom Cruise, whose “Top Gun: Maverick” is up for best picture, r James Cameron, director of best-picture minee “Avatar: Way of Water,” appeared to be at ceremony. Both have been forefront in Hollywood’s efforts to get moviegoers back after years of pandemic.

“ two guys who asked us to go back to ater aren’t in ater,” Kimmel said.

And presenter Glenn Close told Associated Press that she would  longer present at show because she had tested positive for COVID-19.

But academy, still trying to find its footing after several years of pandemic and ratings struggles, is also hoping for a smoor ride than last year. A crisis manment team has been created to help better respond to surprises. academy has called its response to Smith’s actions last year “inadequate.” Neir Rock, who recently made his most forceful statement about incident in a live special, r Smith, who’s been banned by academy for 10 years, are expected to attend.

Academy Awards is attempting to recapture some of its old luster. One thing working in its favor: This year’s best picture field is stacked with blockbusters. Ratings usually go up when minees are more popular, which certainly goes for “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Avatar: Way of Water” and, to a lesser extent, “Elvis” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

awards will also have some star watt in musical performances. Fresh off her Super Bowl performance, Rihanna will perform her Oscar-minated song, “Lift Me Up,” from “Black Panr: Wakanda Forever.” “This Is Life,” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once” will be sung by David Byrne and supporting actress minee Stephanie Hsu with band Son Lux. Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava will perform “Naatu Naatu” from  Indian action epic “RRR.” Lenny Kravitz will perform during In Memoriam tribute.

Last year, Apple TV’s “CODA” became first streaming movie to win best picture. But this year, nine of 10 best picture minees were atrical releases. After movie business cratered during pandemic, moviegoing recovered to about 67% of pre-pandemic levels. But it was an up and down year, full of smash hits and anxiety-inducing lulls in aters.

At same time, rush to streaming encountered new setbacks as studios questioned long-term profitability and reexamined ir release strategies. This year, ticket sales have been strong thanks to releases like “Creed III” and “Cocaine Bear.” But re remain storm clouds on horizon. Writers Guild and major studios are set to begin contract negotiations March 20, a looming battle that has much of industry girding for possibility of a work stopp throughout film and television.

Oscars, meanwhile, are trying to reestablish ir position as premier award show. Last year’s telecast drew 16.6 million viewers, a 58% increase from scaled-down 2021 edition, watched by a record low 10.5 million.

Usually, previous year’s acting winners present awards for best actor and best actress. But that won’t be case this time. Who’ll replace Smith in presenting best actress is just one of questions heading into ceremony.