In a twist of almost-Hollywood fate, Jerry Seinfeld unveils a missed opportunity involving Chris Rock for his Unfrosted’s Bowl and Spoon Awards.
Originally, Seinfeld approached Rock to host the faux awards show, aiming to offer him a shot at redemption following the infamous Will Smith Oscars incident.
Speaking on Dana Carvey and David Spade’s Fly on the Wall podcast, Seinfeld revealed his plan, “Chris Rock was gonna be the emcee of the Bowl and Spoon Awards. We shot that right after the Will Smith slap, and I was gonna have somebody come up on the stage and have Chris punch them out.”
However, the scene took a different turn, with Cedric the Entertainer stepping in as host. Seinfeld explained, “Chris wasn’t … he wasn’t up to perform. He was still a little shook from the event. But Cedric saved the day.”
When discussing the potential Rock joke, opinions diverged. Carvey found it amusing, remarking, “Without the Will Smith thing, I think it’s funny.” Yet, Seinfeld expressed uncertainty, pondering, “Yeah, isn’t that what we’re attracted to more than anything? Residual darkness? I don’t know if it would have worked.”
Carvey remained optimistic, suggesting, “If Chris is there and wants to do it, you get it. You can always trim it. Always get the shot.”
Seinfeld’s revelation offers a glimpse into what could have been a comedic catharsis for Rock, underscoring the fine line between humor and sensitivity in Hollywood’s ever-evolving landscape.
