ABC has debuted the first promotional video for the upcoming Oscars, and it features host Jimmy Kimmel in a full-blown recreation of “Barbie” that also reunites cast members Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera and Kate McKinnon. In perhaps a surprising move, the advertisement directly calls out the Academy for snubbing “Barbie” filmmaker Greta Gerwig in the best director race. Gerwig’s omission is widely considered the most shocking Oscar snub this year, along with “Barbie” star Margot Robbie not making it into the best actress race.
In the promo, Kimmel seeks the advice of Weird Barbie (McKinnon) to figure out how to get to the Oscars. Their journey takes them through a recreation of the “Oppenheimer” set, where Kimmel gets to poke fun at friend Matt Damon (“that poor, incredibly hideous, disgusting, ugly man!”). The two end up in the Oscars lobby, where nominee Ferrera pops up to riff on her famous “Barbie” monologue. She changes it from a feminist anthem to all the reasons why hosting the Oscars is the worst gig in Hollywood.
“It’s literally impossible to host the Oscars,” she tells Kimmel. “You have to be extraordinary, but somehow you’re always doing it wrong. You have to make fun of people, but you can’t make too much fun of people. You have to give everybody enough time, but you can’t go long. And you are the center of attention, but no one cares you’re there. You can never show off, never fail, never show fear… no one says thank but everyone has something critical to say online. If it goes well, nobody says anything. If it doesn’t, it’s all your fault.”
Gosling, also an Oscar nominee this year, then pops up wearing Ken’s “I Am Kenough” hoodie from “Barbie” and holding a bag of food from In-N-Out.
“I got In-N-Out! It’s kind of this cool social media trend where you get it before the Oscars,” Gosling says in a nod to the viral social media moment caused by Paul Giamatti getting In-N-Out after winning a Golden Globe for “The Holdovers.”
“Actually, the trend is to have In-N-Out after the Oscars,” Kimmel informs Gosling. “Actually, after you’ve won the Oscar.”
“Well that’s not going to happen,” Gosling responds (a nod to Robert Downey Jr. being the frontrunner in the best supporting actor race). “Good thing Greta has got [best] director in the bag!”
When Ferrera informs Gosling that Gerwig is not a best director nominee, he lets out his best Ken scream in horror. Ferrera, McKinnon and Kimmel all follow with their own screams.
Gosling and Ferrera separately addressed the “Barbie” snubs on Oscar nominations day and both expressed disappointment with the Academy.
Gosling said in a statement: “There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no ‘Barbie’ movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film. No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius. To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.”
“Look, I heavily edited that statement,” Gosling later told PvNew for a cover story. “I think if I say any more about it, I’m going to basically put on a mink and start challenging people to a beach-off on Malibu Beach.”
“Barbie” is the highest-grossing nominee at the 2024 Academy Awards thanks to its $1.4 billion gross, and it’s nominated for a total of eight Oscars this year. Robbie is a nominee for best picture as one of the film’s producer, while Gerwig is nominated for adapted screenplay.
The Oscars are set to air Sunday, March 10 at 7 p.m. ET. Watch the full promotional video below.
