Chris Rock just joked the elephant out of the room.
In a tense year for the Academy Awards, Rock opened the show with an honest, sharp and seriously funny monologue that focused on the #OscarsSoWhite controversy.
But while Rock addressed many of the racial issues overshadowing the award show, he didn't take himself too seriously, throwing in a few jabs at Rihanna, Kevin Hart, Will Smith and even himself.
"If they nominated hosts, I wouldn't even get this job," he said. "You'd all be watching Neil Patrick Harris right now."
Academy needs to give #ChrisRock an Oscar right now for his entire monologue. #Oscars— Ahmer Farooq (@ahmersays) February 29, 2016
Really wish this was just a 4 hour set from #ChrisRock . #Oscars— Oscar Ramirez (@oscardramirez) February 29, 2016
Hosting the #Oscars is as tough a job as there is in television. It's a 9.5. This year it's an 11. And #ChrisRock just delivered.— Ben Mankiewicz (@BenMank77) February 29, 2016
I don't think anyone else could have pulled off what @ChrisRock just did with that opening monologue. #Bravo #Oscars— PETER KA$H (@PeterKash) February 29, 2016
Chris Rock wastes no time to note #OscarsSoWhite https://t.co/YoSBMQsaa0— Mashable News (@MashableNews) February 29, 2016