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Last night, Stephen Colbert‘s monologue at the Emmys provided us with laughs, a TV-themed musical number, and one big surprise: Sean Spicer. The former White House Press Secretary rolled his now-iconic podium onstage and answered Colbert’s question about how to determine the size of the Emmys’ audience. “This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period–both in person and around the world,” said Spicer, referencing the controversy surrounding the size of Trump’s inauguration.
Stars in the audience reacted differently. Who could forget Veep star Anna Chlumsky‘s complete look of shock?
While many viewers felt Chlumsky’s surprise, some of the Hollywood liberal elites watching at home didn’t enjoy the Spicey spectacle. Harold & Kumar star Kal Penn–Obama’s Associate Director of Public Engagement– and Scrubs legend Zach Braff are not here for what they believe was a step toward “normalizing” Spicer.
In the last few weeks, Spicer has begun the late night circuit, recently appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to discuss his experience in the White House and his plans going forward. The Mindy Project‘s Ike Barinholtz would prefer that Spicer’s revival end at Kimmel.
It’s not just actors who were upset by Spicer’s awkward Emmys appearance. Members of the media also lashed out against Colbert’s choice to bring back the politician.
The eternally humorless blowhard Keith Olbermann went as far as to tweet that the Emmys have “lost all credibility” with him:
Clearly, Spicer’s return was much more controversial than Colbert may have originally thought. Many Hollywood liberals who have spoken out feel that giving Spicer a platform to laugh at himself isn’t appropriate given the damage he did as Trump’s Press Secretary and interim Communications Director. For these actors, writers, and producers, Spicer should have been made the clear target of the joke, as Melissa McCarthy has done on Saturday Night Live, rather than someone in on the joke.
Melissa McCarthy’s face last night pretty much summed up what everyone on Twitter is feeling.
As always, the Emmys are nothing if not memorable. Play us out, Seth Rogen.
