Chris Rock Last Hosted the Oscars in 2005 and Joked About "Black Movies," Jude Law and Other Celebs

The comedian and actor is set to host the 2016 ceremony this Sunday

By Corinne Heller Feb 26, 2016 6:58 PMTags
Chris Rock, OscarsMichael Caulfield/WireImage.com

Chris Rock is preparing to host the 2016 Oscars this Sunday and many anticipate he will joke about the #OscarsSoWhite controversy and, as many have done in his position, poke fun at fellow celebs.

The 51-year-old comedian and actor was among the first celebs to comment publicly on the lack of diversity among this year's acting nominees, calling the ceremony the "White BET Awards." All are white, and all of last year's acting nominees were as well. Following the backlash, the Academy has vowed to boost the number of female and "diverse" members over the next five years.

Rock teased on his Instagram page Thursday a #blackout video ahead of the Oscars.

See you Sunday... #blackout #oscars

A video posted by Chris Rock (@chrisrock) on

Rock, who is known for telling racially charged jokes in his standup act, made some during his opening monologue while hosting his first Oscars ceremony, in 2005. He also joked about actors such as Jude LawNicole KidmanTobey Maguire and Denzel Washington

Check out five highlights:

1. "Def Oscar Jam"Welcome to the 77th and last Academy Awards," he said. "It's a great night tonight, we have four black nominees tonight, so great! It's kinda like the Def Oscar Jam tonight."

In 2005, two black actors won top acting awards and several other non-white stars were nominated. Jamie Foxx won the Oscar for Best Leading Actor for RayDon Cheadle was nominated in the same category. Morgan Freeman won Best Supporting Actor for Million Dollar Baby, while Foxx was also nominated for the same award.

2. "Singing, Dancing and Shooting": Rock also said he loves the Oscars because the ceremony is "the only awards show where the people getting awards don't perform." The annual event typically does feature performances from nominees for Best Original Song.

"That's right, there's no acting at the Oscars," Rock said. "None at all. You go to the Grammys, they're singing. You go to the Tony Awards, they're singing and dancing. You go to the Source Awards, they're singing, dancing and shooting." 

3. "Black Movies"

"Black movies don't have real names," Rock said. "You get names like Barbershop. That's not a name, that's just a location! BarbershopCookoutCar Wash—they've been making the same movie for 40 years! That's right, you know Laundromat's coming soon? And after that, Check-Cashing Place!

4. Celebrity Shade!

"If you can't get a star, wait," Rock joked during his monologue. "If you want Tom Cruise and all you can get is Jude Law, wait. It's not the same thing, OK? Who is Jude Law? Why is he in every movie I have seen the last four years? He's in everything. Even the movies he's not acting in, if you look at the credits, he made cupcakes or something. He's in everything. He's gay. He's straight. He's American. He's British. Next year, he's playing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a movie. "

Sean Penn was not amused, later saying during the ceremony, "Forgive my lack of humor, Jude Law is one of our most talented actors."

Rock also poked fun at more actors, including himself.

"Clint Eastwood is a star. Tobey Maguire is just boy in tights, OK?" he said. "If you want Russell Crowe and all you can get is Colin Farrell, wait! It's not the same thing, OK? Alexander is not Gladiator. Ja Rule is not Tupac, you got that?"

"If want Denzel Washington and all you can get is me, wait! OK?" Rock continued. "Denzel's a fine actor. He would never do Pootie Tang, you got that? After I did Pootie Tang, Cuba Gooding [Jr.] sent me a check for $80."

5. Nicole Kidman Happy for Halle Berry?

In 2001, Berry won Best Actress in a Leading Role for Monster's Ball, becoming the first African-American actress to win that award. She dedicated it to "every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened."

"The only acting you ever see at the Oscars are when people act like they're not mad they lost," Rock said in his 2005 Oscars monologue. "I remember one year when Halle Berry won the Oscar, Nicole Kidman was smiling so wide, she should've won an Emmy at the Oscars for her great performance."

Check out all of our Oscars 2016 coverage.

Watch E!'s live 2016 Oscars red carpet coverage starting at 1:30p.m. ET/10:30a.m. PT on Sunday, February 28th