Jimmy Kimmel is now fully conscious and talking about the 2022 Emmys that some viewers felt was a distraction from Quinta Branson’s big moment.
During the Abbott Elementary creator and star’s appearance Wednesday on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the host apologized after his department caused backlash when he didn’t leave the stage for her acceptance speech. Kimmel called it a “stupid piece of comedy,” adding, “I’m sorry I did it, actually. And also, the last thing I would want to do is upset you because I think about you so much. And I think you know it – I hope you do.’
Branson graciously accepted, telling him, “It’s very kind of you to say that.” She explained that she was so wrapped up in the moment she won her first Emmy that she wasn’t bothered by what else was going on around her. “I had a great night,” said the performer.
Earlier in the episode, he stopped by the end of Kimmel’s monologue, Emmy in hand, to see if he could thank some people he didn’t get to mention at Monday’s ceremony. “You know how when you win an Emmy you only have 45 seconds to give an acceptance speech, which isn’t that much time?” he asked Kimmel. “And then you have less time because someone does a dumb comedy that takes a while.”
Before the episode, the official Twitter account of the ABC late-night show posted an image of Branson holding the Emmy award from the Kimmel stage.
“Look who interrupted Jimmy’s monologue tonight!” read the tweet message.
During Monday’s Emmy Awards telecast on NBC, Will Arnett and Kimmel were the hosts for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. Arnett dragged a seemingly melted Kimmel onstage, explaining that the host was hitting the margaritas too hard after losing his category.
Branson won an Emmy for writing, and Kimmel was on stage throughout her speech. she had to step on him to get to the microphone and even told him to wake up. For her part, she was a good sport throughout and added his name to her list of thanks at the end of the speech. However, several social media users posted that Kimmel should have stood up before her speech.
Afterwards, Brunson told reporters backstage that Kimmel’s piece “didn’t bother me that much,” with the actress noting that she was an early supporter of her show. However, she added that she was scheduled to be a guest on his show on Wednesday and joked that she “might punch him in the face.”
During ABC’s TCA presentations on Wednesday, Abbott Elementary co-star Sheryl Lee Ralph said she found it disrespectful that Kimmel remained on stage throughout the speech. “I didn’t know what was going on. I was like, ‘I wish he would get off the ground,'” said Ralph, who won the Emmy in 2022. “Then I realized it was Jimmy and I was like, ‘Oh, the disrespect.’ I love Jimmy Kimmel, but I’m sorry. I told him face to face and he understood.”
Branson told the TCA panel that she had since spoken with Kimmel and was looking forward to a “good old-fashioned time” during their Jimmy Kimmel Live interview.
