Shoutout to Shonda! Chris Rock gave a nod to veteran TV producer Shonda Rhimes — and one of her hit shows, Scandal — in a series of newly released promo ads for the upcoming Oscars.
“Watch the Oscars,” the Academy Awards host says with a deadpan expression in one clip. “The only show on ABC that Shonda Rhimes doesn’t own — yet.”
In another promo, Rock, 51, juggles a wine glass full of popcorn and a large clear bowl full of red wine.
“Hey Gladiators,” he begins, referencing ardent Scandal fans. “Get your popcorn and wine ready. I’m hosting the Oscars February 28.”
He then glances down at his hands full of food and drink.
“I think I did this wrong,” he says.
Last month, questions were raised about whether the comedian should step down as the host for the Oscars in light of the ongoing #OscarsSoWhite controversy, but ultimately, Rock decided to stay put.
“Chris is hard at work,” Academy Awards producer Reginald Hudlin told Entertainment Tonight. “He and his writing staff locked themselves in a room. As things got a little provocative and exciting, he said, ‘I’m throwing out the show I wrote and writing a new show.’”
Don Cheadle exclusively told Us Weekly that Rock has the opportunity to “skewer the entirety of society.”
“I’ve actually been talking to Chris a little bit and I hope he just goes in, because I think this is a perfect opportunity to take everyone to task — and nobody does it better than Chris, you know what I mean?” Cheadle told Us at the Sundance Film Festival. “He can skewer the entirety of society with this, and on a world stage. I hope it turns out to be one of the greatest moments we’ve ever seen in television history. I think it could be an amazing moment.”