Anthony Anderson's Mom Heckled Emmy Winners Offstage — And It Got Mixed Reviews
Comedian Anthony Anderson might’ve hosted the 75th Emmy Awards on Monday night, but it was his mom, Doris Hancox, who stole the show.
At the awards ceremony at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Anderson, 53, kicked off the show with a nostalgic monologue about classic TV shows, including “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” “Good Times” and “Miami Vice.”
Anderson revealed that this year’s show would be sans traditional orchestral play-off music whenever a winner went over their allotted speech time.
Explaining that 27 Emmys would be handed out through the evening and that winners would need to forgo long acceptance speeches to keep the show on schedule, he revealed he’d tapped Hancox to be the “play-off mama” to good-naturedly heckle people to wrap it up if they talked too long.
Host Anthony Anderson and his mom, Doris Hancox, on Monday at the 75th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
“Tonight, my mama, she is going to be the Emmys’ ‘play-off mama.’ When you see my mama coming, just thank Jesus and your family, and wrap it up,” Anderson joked to the crowd.
He added: “And I don’t want nobody to get disrespectful with my mama, because my mama is from the west side of Chicago, and she can throw hands.”
Not too long into the “Black-ish” star’s speech, his mother stood up and blasted him for taking too long.
“Shut up!” she told the 11-time Emmy nominee. “I want to go to the after-parties.”
Clearly Anderson got his comedic chops from his mom because her reaction to him continuing his monologue was priceless.
“Time’s up, baby,” she fired back at Anderson. “Wrap it up.”
Though the star-studded show’s audience seemed tickled by his mom’s no-nonsense spirit, some X (formerly Twitter) users found the bit to be a cute idea gone bad or just downright “rude.”
Anthony Anderson’s mom thing is worse than playoff music.
If that isn’t just a bit and continues it’s rude as hell. #Emmys— Julian Spivey (@julianspivey44) January 16, 2024
Anthony Anderson's mom cutting off the speeches is not landing the way they wanted.... #emmys
— just adam (@apat10) January 16, 2024
Using Anthony Anderson’s mom instead of music to play off long speeches is the definition of a funny idea on paper that doesn’t work in real life.
Her basically heckling Jennifer Coolidge was a little uncomfortable 😬— Daniel Howat (@howatdk) January 16, 2024
I didn’t think they would really use Anthony Anderson’s mom to stop people going over time during their speeches. it’s so awkward! 😅 #EmmyAwards
— kaye (@kayeisme) January 16, 2024
Anthony Anderson mom is actually truly yelling for #Emmys winners to stop talking during their acceptance speeches - DID ANYONE THINK THIS BIT THROUGH?!? Just cut the mic!! pic.twitter.com/JTZy0dvDYN
— () (@notpunnyhunny) January 16, 2024
Anthony Anderson’s Mom cutting off Jennifer Coolidge during her acceptance speech was the most cringe thing I’ve seen in a while. #Emmys2024
— KO 🇳🇬 (@kemdito) January 16, 2024
The Anthony Anderson mom bit is not playing like they think it is. Absurd and embarrassing. #Emmys2024
— black laura dern (@bawlzoehard) January 16, 2024
this bit with Anthony Anderson's mom cutting people's speeches off is not cute at all #Emmys
— Caitlin (@caitlingilbs) January 16, 2024
Other X users found Anderson and Hancox’s approach to be “genius.”
Love the genius of #Emmys2024 skipping "play-off" music and instead having Anthony Anderson's Mom yelling at them to wrap it up! 😂 pic.twitter.com/Njv6CKIiVv
— Nikki_Clark (@NikkiAriesMedia) January 16, 2024
Anthony Anderson’s mom is hilarious. Whoever thought of that deserves a raise 😂
— brp* (@shwaaang) January 16, 2024
This Anthony Anderson Mom gag is HILARIOUS.
— Marcella Arguello (@marcellacomedy) January 16, 2024
See a complete list of winners from the 75th Emmy Awards here.