Kenan Thompson rips Leonardo DiCaprio in Emmys 2022 monologue

The 2022 Primetime Emmys are officially underway, thanks to Kenan Thompson’s choreographed dances to TV’s most well-known theme songs.

“It is I, the mayor of television, Kenan Thompson,” the 44-year-old “Saturday Night Live” veteran said while walking around the star-studded audience.

“Tonight is a celebration. It’s a celebration because it’s also how our agents make a living.”

He continued, “If it weren’t for TV, what would we do with our free time?

“Read books? No one in this room has read a book in 50 years. Have sex? Gross,” he joked.

“TV is all we have to Netflix and chill and Paramount+ and eating dinner at home,” he said before launching into a choreographed dance to the “Friends” theme song.

He also stuck himself in the middle iconic squares during “The Brady Bunch” opening sequence.

“I discovered that Mr. Mike Brady is my biological father. Looks like Kwanzaa’s going to be very different this year,” Thompson joked before the camera panned over to a table where the organ cast of “The Brady Bunch” was sitting. 

Lastly, Thompson closed out the dancing portion of the night in a “Game of Thrones”-inspired wig, stating, “That’s ‘The Game of Thrones’ b—hes.”

After a commercial break, Thompson returned for a proper, joke-filled monologue.

He gave a special shoutout to “Euphoria” star, Zendaya, who celebrated her 26th birthday last week.

“26 is a weird age in Hollywood. I mean, you’re young enough to play a high school student, but you’re too old to date Leonardo DiCaprio,” he said as the actress hid her face behind her hands.

“And ‘Succession’ has 25 nominations. Nice,” Thompson continued. “I love the Roy family. ‘Succession’ is the only show that has three brothers but no brothers,” he said of the show’s lack of diversity.

Twitter poked fun at the cast, who was staring blankly as cameras cut to them. “The cast of succession is too white. they did not get what kenan was saying,” one viewer wrote.

Prior to the awards, Thompson hinted that his “SNL” characters may make an appearance at the award show in the weeks prior to the event, but that didn’t happen in the show’s opening.

“I love doing a character,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “I would say the odds are probably pretty high because I’m down to do it.”

Specifically, the comedian noted his character Diondre Cole from the recurring sketch “What Up With That?” 

He also revealed that his fellow “SNL” castmates helped him prep for the hosting gig.

“A large majority of [my co-stars] are usually improv people, so they’re used to just firing off. Whatever you say triggers a reaction from them,” he said. “So ‘SNL’ taught me to always be ready, always be thinking. Especially when you’re around those kinds of people,” he said.

“Being a part of this incredible evening where we honor the best of the television community is ridiculously exciting, and to do it on NBC – my longtime network family – makes it even more special,” Thompson, 44, said in a statement when he was announced as the host. “Like all TV fans, I can’t wait to see the stars from my favorite shows.”

Thompson will begin his 20th season on “SNL” later this fall and is also no stranger to the Emmys as a six-time nominee of the award.

He scored two nods in 2021 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his comedy series “Kenan” and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for “SNL.”

In 2018, he won a golden statuette for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the “SNL” song “Come Back, Barack.”