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| Photo Credit: AP. |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Abbott Elementary” creator-star Quinta Brunson took revenge on Jimmy Kimmel’s Emmy prank with one of her own, then collected an apology from the late-night host whose bit was criticized as rude and worse.
Kimmel, who
had distracted attention from Brunson’s Emmy acceptance speech by lying
pretend-drunk on stage, was delivering his monologue Wednesday when a
pretty-in-pink Brunson appeared, award in hand.
“I have a
little favor to ask,” she said. “So you know how when you win an Emmy you only
have 45 seconds to do an acceptance speech, which is like not that much time.
And then ... you get less time because someone does a dumb comedy bit that goes
on a bit too long?”
“I have
heard of that happening in previous years,” Kimmel replied.
“Well, I was
wondering, or no, more demanding if I could I have a couple of extra minutes to
thank, you know, a couple of extra people,” Brunson said. Kimmel stepped back
to cede the spotlight to his guest, and later in the show told Brunson he was
sorry for what he’d done at the Emmys on Monday.
Brunson’s
and Kimmel’s shows both air on ABC.
Brunson won
the best comedy series writing award Emmy and found herself sharing the stage
with Kimmel — who was flat on his back and dragged there by fellow presenter
Will Arnett because Kimmel supposedly had too many “skinny margaritas.” Kimmel
gave Brunson a thumbs-up for her award but didn’t budge, a decision that was
blasted online as thoughtless by some and cited as an example of white-male
arrogance by others.
“Abbott
Elementary,” a mockumentary set in an underfunded Philadelphia school, earned a
total of three Emmy Awards for its freshman season, including one for co-star
Sheryl Lee Ralph for best comedy supporting actress.
On Kimmel’s
show, Brunson received loud applause from the studio audience when she thanked
“all of the fans of the show,” then joined the host for a chat.
He started
out with a one-liner — “Congratulations on your Emmy. I missed it, how did it
go?” — then turned apologetic, beginning with an awkwardly qualified mea culpa.
“That was a
dumb comedy bit that we thought it would be funny,” he said. “Then people got
upset, they said I stole your moment. And maybe I did. I’m very sorry if I did
do that. I did do that, actually. ... The last thing I would ever want to do is
upset you, because I think so much of you. I think you know that. I hope you
know that.”
“It’s very
kind of you to say that,” Brunson replied, graciously, avoiding direct
criticism of Kimmel. She said she was “wrapped up in the moment” after winning
her first Emmy and with Arnett and Kimmel on stage with her.
“Honestly, I
had a great night. It was a good night and a good time,” she said.
Kimmel, who
jokingly blamed Arnett for what happened, lauded Brunson’s series and noted
that he’s never won an Emmy despite repeated trips to the awards.
“And I went
one time and won,” she said, delivering the dig with a smile.
Kimmel
offered one last apology, adding, “I was dumb, and I’ve got news: It’s gonna
happen again.”
Earlier
Wednesday, Brunson and her cast mates fielded questions from TV critics during
a virtual panel discussion, with Ralph expressing her displeasure with Kimmel’s
Emmy act. “I was like, ‘Oh, the disrespect, Jimmy,’” Ralph recalled.
She
sarcastically referred to it as “lovely that he was lying on the floor during
her wonderful acceptance speech. “I told him too, to his face, and he understood,”
said Ralph.
When Brunson
was asked what she expected during her appearance with Kimmel, she said she was
“anticipating that we are going to have a good old-fashioned time” and that she
was intent on highlighting the season-two return of “Abbott Elementary” on
Sept. 21.
Brunson said
that she and Kimmel had already spoken but didn’t detail their private
conversation. Backstage at the Emmys on Monday, Brunson said the bit didn’t
bother her “that much” and noted that Kimmel has been a booster of her and
“Abbott Elementary.” If she decides she’s mad at him, a smiling Brunson added,
she might “punch him in the face” during her appearance on his show.