Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel prompted a standing ovation at the Dolby Theatre by ending his show-opening monologue with a rousing appreciation to below-the-line union workers.
“We were able to make a deal because of the people who rallied beside us,” Kimmel said, referring to those who picketed in support of WGA and SAG/AFTRA members.
“Before we celebrate ourselves, let’s have a very well-deserved round of applause for the people who work behind the scenes: the Teamsters, the truck drivers, the lighting crew, sound, camera, gaffers, grips. That’s right. All the people who refused to cross the picket line.”
As the applause built, Kimmel invited the crew members working on the ABC awards telecast to step out onstage and acknowledge the cheers.
“There they are,” Kimmel said, adding a quip, “If you wear Skechers to the Oscars, take a bow.”
Kimmel’s action coincided with Hollywood approaching another critical labor juncture following the previous year’s dual strikes, which paralyzed the industry for several months. Negotiations between IATSE and the AMPTP have commenced ahead of a summer deadline, yet guild members have been signaling a strong readiness to strike.
“Now that the strike is over, now that [SAG/AFTRA President] Fran Drescher has returned to her volunteer work, reading loudly to the hearing-impaired, we can be proud that this long and difficult work stoppage taught us that this very strange town of ours, as pretentious and superficial as it can be, at its heart is a union town. It’s not just a bunch of heavily Botoxed, Hailey Bieber smoothie-drinking, diabetes-prescription-abusing, gluten-sensitive nepo babies with perpetually shivering Chihuahuas. This is a coalition of strong, hard-working mentally tough American laborers. Women and men who would 100% for sure die if we even had to touch the handle of a shovel.”
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