Jimmy Kimmel reported back to work on Monday night to Jimmy Kimmel Live! after hosting the 96th Academy Awards on March 10 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.
The late night host broke down some of his favorite moments from the night, including Ryan Gosling's "I'm Just Ken" performance and some of his best gags, and finally broke down the bit that got everyone talking.
John Cena stole the show in a bit that paid tribute to the 50th anniversary of a streaker running across the stage at the 1974 Oscars, walking out onto the stage almost completely naked to present the award for Best Costume Design (which went to Poor Things).
Jimmy broke down the work that went into the skit on the air, saying: "Getting this on the air…of all the times I've hosted the Oscars or the Emmys or anything, no comedy bit has ever received more scrutiny than this."
He explained that there was so much hesitancy before getting it approved in the first place that it almost didn't happen. "There were meetings and site meetings, emails and texts and phone calls and people sweating.
"Somebody was crying," he continued. "Then once they realized we weren't going to take no for an answer … there was intense discussion about the envelope."
© Getty ImagesJimmy revealed that the producers wanted an even bigger envelope to ensure that absolutely nothing was visible, and showed their original design, which was much larger than the one John walked out with.
"I'd say congratulations, John Cena," Jimmy concluded. "The commotion you caused. Very rarely does an idea literally push the envelope and this one did."
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In a conversation with Variety after the Oscars, Rob Mills, the executive VP of unscripted and alternative entertainment at Walt Disney Television, spoke more in depth about making sure that the Ricky Stanicky actor looked as much as possible like a "Ken doll" during his Oscars bit.
"I'm going to educate you a little here," he explained. "A bulge cannot be showing, and you can't show crack. It was also, 'What happens if he drops that card?'
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"So, we made sure that, for all intents and purposes, he looked like a Ken doll up front. His crack was covered in the back and then the envelope was Velcro-ed on there so it wouldn't fall. But beyond that, he was naked." Backstage photos from the show did reveal that the actor's private parts were covered with skin-toned fabric.
© Getty ImagesOscars executive producer Molly McNearney (also an EP on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and Jimmy's wife) added of the Standards & Practices (S&P) executives: "They were sweating!
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"I think at the end we all got to a spot where we were comfortable, S&P was comfortable, and it didn't compromise the comedy a bit. I was very thankful that we didn't have to send him out there in tighty whities, which I'm sure legal would have preferred."
© Getty ImagesAnd she maintained that yes, they did want John to be nude. "That's what I wanted! Maybe it's not what [S&P] wanted. That's definitely what I want!"
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