The best tradition of the Screen Actor Guild Awards each year, beyond their decision to keep the lifetime achievement award on air (are you listening Oscar?), is their opening bit wherein a random collection of thespians give little weird speeches that end with "I am an actor." Sometimes they're funny. Sometimes they're serious. Sometimes they're headscratching. Regardless, it's always something to look forward to each year. Here are the five actors they chose this year in ascending order of how well they pulled it off.
05 Ashton Kutcher
Kutcher read from a teleprompter. Noooooo.
Actors are activists no matter what because we embody the worth and humanity of all people.
04 Kerry Washington
Kerry opted for a political speech. The night was full of politics and some would get a lot more pointed and potent than this.
03 Sterling K Brown
The People vs OJ Simpson breakout, told a story from his childhood. The nerves seemed to be getting to him but he ended the story with a wink, for which you can forgive him all.
02 Jeff Bridges
The Dude abides, going off script "Thanks, Kerry that was inspiring and I agree with you!" and just being him beloved old codger self. Note the man spread - LOL - and he laughed first at himself with a joke about his career being made of luck and nepotism.
Six months ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and he gave me my greatest role yet: the role of 'Mom'. [beat] I'm kidding. My greatest role is playing Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix. That's why I'm eating free dinner. SORRY JAMES! I'm Ellie Kemper and I'm an actor."
01 Ellie Kemper
Unbreakable and irresistible Kimmy Schmidt herself, did what I thought i'd never see anyone do -- she satirized the hoary cliche of the famous actress claiming that her greatest role was as mother. She really did give birth to a little boy named James six months ago. All actresses seem to snap back to pre-baby weight quickly but her comic timing didn't need any recovery time.
Do you love this SAG tradition?