SAG-AFTRA’s Strike Conclusion is all Late Night Hosts Can Talk About: Jimmy Kimmel Calling it “Take Yourself Back To Work Day”

Hollywood is back in full force. With the SAG-AFTRA strike finally over, the news has made headlines and has been the subject of everyone in entertainment’s conversations. Some people talking about it the most might have to be late-night hosts. Jimmy Fallon (Saturday Night Live) and Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!) have made the subject of the strike’s conclusion the main center of both their episodes and their jokes.

Kimmel, on his latest episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, started off his opening monologue by addressing the end of the actor’s strike, opening with, of course, a playful joke. He said, “Thank you for joining us on ‘take yourself back to work day’ here in Hollywood, where most of the movie and TV business has been at a stop, a standstill, since May.” He then continued and brought up the writers as well, and how all those who work in entertainment have been affected and waiting patiently for the historic conclusion, “Writers’ Strike started in May. But at long last, the actor’s strike is finally over. A lot of people were affected. The Hallmark Channel immediately started shooting all 1,200 of its Christmas movies this morning. One member of the negotiating committee said that there were ‘tears of exhilaration and joy’ in the room after the deal was approved, and it only took them a few takes. It was very realistic.”

The SAG-AFTRA strike reached its conclusion after 118 days on strike when the tentative deal was reached with AMPTP. Because of this, actors were not allowed to promote their upcoming projects. But now, everyone is scrambling to make their promotions heard.

On The Tonight Show, Fallon was delivering his monologue and delivering similar jokes about the conclusion of the strike, when he was suddenly interrupted by some guests who had been on the show a few nights before. Ben Marshall, Martin Herlihy, and John Higgins, the Saturday Night Live trio officially called “Please Don’t Destroy” who are starring in their upcoming film Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain, crashed into the studio to promote their film since they were not able to when the strike was still going on during their episode.

The Please Don’t Destroy boys went on to crash the monologue with little comedic quips that included the full title of their upcoming film and the release date (it’s November 17th if you missed the memo). 

After the trio departed the stage, Fallomn went on and concluded his monologue about the strike, “When the actors heard a deal had been reached, they gasped, screamed, laughed, cried and then were like, ‘I also do accents.’ Seriously, the actors are back just in time. I’m not sure the world could handle another reality dating show.”

Anna Phillips: Anna Phillips is a senior dramatic writing Corcoran Scholar at George Washington University. She is a writer, actor, and journalist. She is born and raised in Fair Haven, New Jersey- the proud home of Bruce Springsteen. Now, she lives in Washington DC where she writes, finishes her studies, and runs the comedy group receSs as president and head writer. Her favorite movie is Dazed and Confused, her favorite TV shows are HunterxHunter and Ted Lasso and her favorite song is Chinatown by Bleachers. She is currently developing a short film for her senior thesis! Ask her about it when you see her!
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