So… how did he do?
Chris Rock didn’t just host the 2016 Academy Awards. He hosted the 2016 Academy Awards under the umbrella of controversy over no African-Americans receiving any acting nominations.
Clearly, the beloved comic was going to comment on this issue during his monologue.
And comment he did! Here’s a look at Rock’s most pointed digs and jokes from the 88th annual Oscars:
Starting Out Slow:
You realize, if they nominated hosts, I wouldn’t even get this job!
On Why He Didn’t Quit as Host:
The last thing I need is to lose another job to Kevin Hart!
On Why Blacks Didn’t Care When They Weren’t Nominated in the 1960s:
They were too busy being raped and lynched to care about who won Best Cinematographer. When your grandmother’s swinging from a tree, it’s really hard to care about Best Documentary Foreign – Short.
On Jada Pinkett-Smith Boycotting the Ceremony:
Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties — I wasn’t invited!
On Why Only Women Get Asked What They’re Wearing:
Because men all dress the same. Rock quipped: “If George Clooney showed up with a lime green tux on and a swan coming out his ass, somebody would ask, ‘What’re you wearing, George?”
On Real Problems Facing African-Americans:
This year on the In Memoriam package, it’s just gonna be black people shot by the cops on their way to the movies.
On Why They Should Create Black-Only Categories:
Because they randomly separate men and women already, even though this is “not track and field.”
Is Hollywood Racist?
“You’re damn right Hollywood is racist. Hollywood is soroity racist. It’s like, we like you, Rhonda, but you’re not a Kappa.”
On… Rocky?
“We got a black Rocky this year. Some people call it Creed; I call it Black Rocky. That’s an unbelievable statement, because Rocky takes place in a world where white athletes are as good as black athletes. Rocky is a science fiction movie. There are things that happened in Star Wars more believable than what happened in Rocky.”
On the Overall Point:
“We want opportunities. We want the black actors to get the same opportunities, that’s it.”