Cedric the Entertainer kicked off the 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards with a little bit of music and plenty of shade.
After Hollywood A-listers like The Flight Attendant’s Kaley Cuoco and Ted Lasso’s Jason Sudeikis graced the red carpet, Cedric, who hosted Sunday night's event, opened up the show by honoring late rapper Biz Markie with a remix of his hit 1989 song “Just a Friend.” Fellow rappers LL Cool J, Lil Dicky and other nominees joined in singing edited lyrics about current events like quarantining amid the coronavirus pandemic. Cedric also touched on other current events in his monologue and unexpectedly poked fun at Jeopardy!.
While welcoming back folks to the in-person award show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Cedric remarked how impressed he was with the crowd while also referencing Jeopardy!'s recent hosting scandal.
“Look at this room, man, so many talented people in here,” Cedric said. “Matter of fact, lock the doors — we’re not leaving until we find a new host for Jeopardy!”
While millions watched the Emmys from home, only several folks tuning in had something to say about the joke on Twitter. Most of these Jeopardy! fans took to Twitter to admit that it was a clever joke not too far from the truth. “Not the Jeopardy! joke 😂,” one person wrote. “Okay. Solid #Jeopardy joke 😆😆,” another added.
What’s more, viewers even threw actor Seth Rogan’s name into the mix, thanks to his muted pink and orange suit. “Is Seth Rogan ALSO hoping to host Jeopardy now? #Emmys,” someone commented.
Nearly a year following longtime host Alex Trebek's death in November 2020, Jeopardy! continues its search for a new permanent host. Last month, former executive producer Mike Richards was named Alex’s successor after a seven-month long audition process involving a roster of 15 celebrity and Jeopardy! champion guest hosts, which included Mike himself. But only a day later, he stepped down and subsequently left the show due to several past controversies. Now, Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik and Jeopardy! prodigy Ken Jennings are stepping in as cohosts for the rest of the year.
