Emmy host Kimmel’s hilarious Trump smackdown

EMMYS host Jimmy Kimmel said the rise of Donald Trump could be traced back to one man — and he was sitting in the Emmys audience.

EMMYS host Jimmy Kimmel played it relatively safe with his opening monologue at today’s awards, spending equal time roasting Presidential nominee Donald Trump — and Downton Abbey star Dame Maggie Smith.

Following a prerecorded opening video featuring cameos from Veep, Game of Thrones and Modern Family stars — and an appearance by former GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush — Kimmel strode on stage and immediately bounded into the audience to hand a trophy to dumbfounded Transparent star Jeffrey Tambor.

A stunned Jeffrey Tambor is handed his first award. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

“Alright, that just saved us 22 minutes,” he said, a reference to Tambor’s lengthy winning speech at last year’s ceremony.

From there, Kimmel tackled all of television’s biggest shows and issues for 2016:

THE DIVERSITY ISSUE

“More diversity than ever before. Here in Hollywood the only thing we value more than diversity is congratulating ourselves on how much we value diversity. We’re so diverse the Oscars tell people we’re a close friend. We’re not.

“If you’re a person of colour, find a white person and take a moment to reach out and say thanks for your bravery,” he said, tongue firmly in cheek. In the front row, Aziz Ansari and Modern Family’s Ty Burrell rose to the challenge, rising to embrace each other in a hammy exchange for the cameras.

DONALD TRUMP

Is Mark Burnett to blame for Trump’s success? Picture: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Kimmel pointed out that it was television, and his starring role in The Apprentice, that kickstarted Trump’s rise to power. If it weren’t for TV, “he’d be at home right now, quietly rubbing up against his wife while she pretends to be asleep”.

And the man who started it all was in the audience: British-born reality TV producer Mark Burnett, who created The Apprentice.

“You sneaky little crumpet muncher you. Who do you have lined up to fill the spot on the Supreme Court, Miley Cyrus or Cee Lo?”

If Trump does build a wall between the US and Mexico, Kimmel said, Burnett would be the first hurled over.

THE PEOPLE VS. OJ

“If your show doesn’t have a dragon or a white bronco in it, go home,” he warned the audience.

Pointing out who Sarah Paulson had brought as her date — prosecutor Marcia Clark, the woman she plays in the show — Kimmel couldn’t resist a dig: “Everyone in LA knows, if you wanna win, sit next to Marcia Clark.”

“John Travolta, welcome back to TV. If you win, are you gonna thank OJ? You wouldn’t be here without him.

“Cuba played OJ so well I now believe Cuba might’ve done it.”

GAME OF THRONES

Jon Snow — Kimmel’s one free pass, apparently.

“Television has the power to make us laugh and cry and during certain key parts of Game of Thrones, masturbate. Hi Jon Snow — you’re my freebie, by the way.”

MAGGIE SMITH

Perennial no-show Maggie Smith.

Kimmel finished his opening monologue with an epic roast of Dame Maggie Smith. Despite several nominations and three wins, Smith has never attended an Emmy Awards.

“I think she has a Sunday ceramics class on today,” he said.

And it’s not like she has a general aversion to awards shows — Smith will happily attend the Oscars, even “the Soul Train Awards”, said Kimmel.

“When Maggie Smith hears she’s nominated for an Emmy, she has the same reaction the rest of us have when we get those Bed Bath and Beyond 20 per cent off coupons in the mail. Straight in the garbage.”