Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel goes full out 'Barbie' in opening monologue

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES -- Jimmy Kimmel has been a staple of precocious nighttime tv since 2003. He erstwhile again stepped into the primetime spotlight arsenic the big of the 96th Oscars, his 4th clip successful the gig.

Kimmel went afloat Barbie earlier his opening monologue. Leading up to the Oscars, helium had skit aft skit with the Barbie cast, including Oscar nominees Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera.

Right earlier helium came connected stage, we saw Kimmel successful the Barbie film, chatting with Margot Robbie's "Barbie" character. Barbie calls Kimmel beautiful.

"I know, I was conscionable reasoning that," He said. "I haven't eaten successful 3 weeks. I'm truthful hungry. I person to spell big the Oscars."

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Kimmel started his monologue by acknowledging the Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild strikes that unopen down Hollywood productions that defined Hollywood successful 2023.

"It was a hard year, but it was a large twelvemonth for movies," helium said.

Kimmel continued the Barbie taxable successful his monologue, and gave a shoutout to Director Greta Gerwig -- highlighting the Oscar surprise that near her disconnected of the Oscar manager nominees.

"What are you guys clapping for, you're the 1 who didn't ballot for her," Kimmel said, calling retired the Academy voters successful the audience. "Don't enactment similar you had thing to bash with that. You did that."

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Margot Robbie, left, and writer/director Greta Gerwig airs for photographers upon accomplishment astatine the premiere of the movie 'Barbie' connected Wednesday, July 12, 2023, successful London.

(Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Kimmel went connected to compliment some Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, Barbie and Ken.

"I privation you to cognize that if neither of triumph an Oscar tonight, some of you person won thing overmuch much important -- the familial lottery," Kimmel said. "Ryan you are truthful hot, I could conscionable devour you up."

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Kimmel made nods to different stars astatine the awards including Robert Downey Jr., Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone, Bradley Cooper and adjacent "Anatomy of a Fall" canine prima Messi.