SignalHub-2024 Emmys: Why Fans Aren't Happy With Jimmy Kimmel's Bob Newhart In Memoriam Tribute

Jimmy Kimmel is SignalHubonce again on the receiving end of some award show backlash.

During the 2024 Emmys on Sept. 15, the comedian took the stage at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles immediately following the In Memoriam segment honoring the year's fallen stars. However, his tribute to late friend and TV icon Bob Newhart—who died in July at the age of 94—was met with mixed reviews on social media.

Kimmel kicked off his speech with, "And the Emmy for deceased industry professional we will miss most goes to..." before adding, "This is the time in the show when we remember the people who've we've lost over the last year, one I was very lucky to know, and that was Bob Newhart."

"Those of you who knew Bob, who knew him personally, know he was exactly who you thought he would be," the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host gushed. "He did not have range. He didn't need to have range. Bob had what very few comedians have, especially today: A degree in accounting."

Kimmel went on to praise the late Elf star as "humble" and a "politely hilarious man" who was long under-recognized by the Academy.

"He had his first Emmy nomination in 1962 and didn't win one until 2013 51 years later," Kimmel noted, "which is a great lesson and that lesson is Jon Stewart, you should be ashamed of yourself. You said you were retiring."

All jokes aside, Kimmel concluded, "Bob Newhart was one of our most loved and funniest people for more than 60 years and we will miss him for many years to come."

After the appearance, some viewers called out Kimmel's light-hearted monologue following the In Memoriam segment.

"Jimmy Kimmel literally just said the worst joke after a sad moment recognizing everyone in the industry who’ve unfortunately passed," one X (formerly known as Twitter) user wrote while another posted, "Sorry. I just don’t find Jimmy Kimmel funny anymore… it wasn’t classy to make that joke or have him come out after such an emotional ‘In Memoriam’ [performance] by Jelly Roll like that."

Meanwhile, another user commented, "Jimmy Kimmel remains not funny. Like that was cringy. Like what are you saying? Ugh, tacky."

Keep reading to see all the winners of the 2024 Emmys.

Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers

WINNER: Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer

Jon Hamm, Fargo

Tom Hollander, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans

Andrew Scott, Ripley

WINNER: Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country

Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry

Juno Temple, Fargo

Sofía Vergara, Griselda

Naomi Watts, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans

Dakota Fanning, Ripley

Lily Gladstone, Under The Bridge

WINNER: Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer

Aja Naomi King, Lessons in Chemistry

Diane Lane, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans

Nava Mau, Baby Reindeer

Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country

Jonathan Bailey, Fellow Travelers

John Hawkes, True Detective: Night Country

Robert Downey Jr., The Sympathizer

WINNER: Lamorne Morris, Fargo

Tom Goodman-Hill, Baby Reindeer

Treat Williams, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans

WINNER: Baby Reindeer

Fargo

Lessons in Chemistry

Ripley

True Detective: Night Country

WINNER: The Daily Show

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Late Night With Seth Meyers

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

The Amazing Race

Top Chef

RuPaul’s Drag Race

WINNER: The Traitors

The Voice

The Crown

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Fallout

WINNER: Shogun

The Gilded Age

Slow Horses

The Morning Show

3 Body Problem 

Abbott Elementary

The Bear

Curb Your Enthusiasm

WINNER: Hacks

Only Murders In The Building

Palm Royale

Reservation Dogs

What We Do In The Shadows

Christine Baranski, The Gilded Age

Greta Lee, The Morning Show

Nicole Beharie, The Morning Show

Lesley Manville, The Crown

WINNER: Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown

Karen Pittman, The Morning Show

Holland Taylor, The Morning Show

Tadanobu Asano, Shogun

WINNER: Billy Crudup, The Morning Show

Mark Duplass, The Morning Show

Jon Hamm, The Morning Show

Takehiro Hira, Shogun

Jack Lowden, Slow Horses

Jonathan Pryce, The Crown

Carol Burnett, Palm Royale

WINNER: Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear

Hannah Einbinder, Hacks

Janelle James, Abbott Elementary

Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary

Meryl Streep, Only Murders in the Building

Lionel Boyce, The Bear

Paul Rudd, Only Murders in the Building

Paul W. Downs, Hacks

Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary

WINNER: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear

Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live

Idris Elba, Hijack

WINNER: Hiroyuki Sanada, Shogun

Walton Goggins, Fallout

Dominic West, The Crown

Donald Glover, Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Gary Oldman, Slow Horses

Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show

WINNER: Anna Sawai, Shogun

Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age

Imelda Staunton, The Crown

Maya Erskine, Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show

Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary

Maya Rudolph, Loot

Ayo Edebiri, The Bear

WINNER: Jean Smart, Hacks

Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building

Kristen Wiig, Palm Royale

Matt Berry, What We Do In The Shadows

Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm

Steve Martin, Only Murders In The Building

Martin Short, Only Murders In The Building

WINNER: Jeremy Allen White, The Bear

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tie, Reservation Dogs

Watch the 2024 Emmys ceremony tonight, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC. And don't miss the Live From E!: Emmys red carpet pre-show starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT, only on E!.