Jimmy Kimmel reveals Oscar pay, says Wanda Sykes was ‘robbed’

Do they get what they pay for? Jimmy Kimmel and Wanda Sykes compares notes – and they both agree that the Oscars do not offer a generous salary to hosts.

Sykes, 58, is nominated for the MC 2022 Academy Awards concurrently Regina Hall and Amy Schumer Sunday, March 27, and Kimmel, 54, was not afraid to discuss how little he himself was paid to host in 2017 and 2018. Upshaws star said, however, that she was not aware that it would be so low-paid to take the host position.

“I was thinking, ‘Uh, I guess I have to say yes, don’t I?’ You have to say yes, ”Sykes said during a performance Jimmy Kimmel Live! Monday, March 21st. “I was really excited about it, but then I realized that out of all the jobs I have, this is actually going to cost me money.”

The late-night personality confirmed that the concert is not known for paying well. “It’s going to cost you money. Do you want to say how much you get paid for this?” asked Kimmel.

“I do not even know it’s probably scale,” Sykes claimed. The term applies to those in the union, SAG-AFTRA. The scale for a low-budget film in 2022 is $ 686 per. day or $ 2,382 per. week.

“It’s smaller than that,” assured the former host. “I was paid $ 15,000 to host the Oscars. And there’s one of me! You’ll probably have to split it up.”

The comics noted that the planning process starts long before the red carpet rolls out. “It sounds like a lot for one night, but it’s months of work up to it,” Kimmel stressed.

The Brooklyn-born comedian joked that she should renegotiate now that it’s too late to replace her. “You’re being robbed. You know what? Hold on right now because they need hosts, you know?” he said.

That New adventures of old Christine alum, however, has a different plan. “Well, I’ve already decided I just want to steal an Oscar,” she teased.

Sykes went on to see a few of her plans for Sunday’s big show, and how sharing host roles with Schumer, 40, and Hall, 51, will allow them to collaborate and take individual moments to shine between awards.

“We’re going to share a monologue at the top of the show, and then you’ll see us in different [set ups]”, she explained.” Either we stay together, it could be the two of us, it could be one of us, who knows? “

It all came back to her paycheck, though. “To be honest, it’s like the one who gets drunk will be the one who’s backstage,” laughed the Virginia native. “So if you see Amy and Regina out, you can just say, ‘Wanda is drunk, she’s backstage – drunk.'”

Sykes told Kimmel that she wants a drink after the first act. “I’m here to have fun, it’s not like I get paid,” the comedian said. “Get what you pay for. If you want sober Wanda, add some more zeros and move that comma. You get free Wanda.”

Oscars will be broadcast live on ABC on Sunday, March 27 at. 20.00 ET.

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