2017 ESPY Awards: 22 Things You Didn’t See on TV
For all the magical moments seen on the live ABC broadcast of the 2017 ESPYs, there were plenty more moments that you could only see from the red carpet or inside the Microsoft Theater.
Fortunately, TheWrap had access to both.
From Peyton Manning’s cheeky jokes and making fun of himself, to Kevin Durant‘s pouting and plenty of tear-inducing emotional moments, we had an (almost) front row view of all the action.
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See 22 things you didn’t see on TV below:
Peyton Manning has flawless comic timing:
Once renown for his perfect passes, the former Colts and Broncos QB annihilated the audience with his swift jokes. Entering the stage to a wave of cheers, Manning immediately mocked former hosts — especially TV has-beens like Jimmy Smits. “The only difference is I knew when to retire … while I still had my original neck,” he said.
“The ESPYs finally got it right instead of some comedian or entertainer or Matthew Perry,” he added.
No one likes Ryan Lochte …
“John Cena is an athlete the same way Ryan Lochte is a reliable witness,” Manning continued, to cheers of agreement. “You’ve got me, Michael Phelps?” Yep, the multi-gold medal winner agreed. Manning went on to say he wouldn’t rip into other athletes … “but here are the jokes I wouldn’t tell.” And went on to rip all the other athletes in the house.
“Unfortunately my brother Eli can’t be here – that’s what I told the guys at the door,” he said. Manning afraid of some toilet humor at Mark Sanchez’s expense either. “Butt fumble … they wanted me to say anus on TV. My kids are here, I want it to be classy. Anus.
Kevin Durant was not amused.
The joke about Kevin Durant willing to jump to any winning team was hit with the audience but fell flat with the NBA Finals MVP, who was stony-faced when the cameras fell on him. Was that part of the joke or was Durant really pissed? We’re not sure, but it sure did make it funnier either way. Durant was just as straight-faced later in the night when he accepted the award for Best Championship Performance.
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Reluctant respect for the Super Bowl LI champions
“Finally cos I am being forced to say it – I love that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick won their fifth Super Bowl. Enough of that,” Manning said, to united groans from the non-New England fans, with a mock scowl on his face.
“The Falcons and Matt Ryan will be back. I want to say that at the beginning of the show, because I know they’ll stop paying attention three-quarters of the way through.” OUCH!
Feathered guest of honor
As part of Manning’s self-mocking of all the products he endorses, from pizza to insurance, the Aflac duck had the best seat in the house — and a very dapper bow tie. He had a slew of admirers snapping pics, like a true celebrity.
“I’m in the insurance game now … I’ve got to compete with that damn Aflac duck,” Manning quipped.
Jeremy Renner’s broken wings
Elizabeth Olsen and Jeremy Renner were the first hosts of the night, with the “Avengers” actor looked quite recovered from his recent on-set accident that broke both his arms. Ironically he presented the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year Award to Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott.
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Mr. Clippers is the entertainer of the night
When NBA star DeAndre Jordan came to the stage, a die-hard Clippers fan stood up in a full Clippers gear and shouted “We love you DJ!” Mr. Clippers also seemed to really like Snoop Dogg — and wasn’t afraid to stand up and dance alone. Later, he showed very vocal love for Michelle Obama as well.
“Saturday Night Live” worthy skit was a hit
While no famous face in the audience was safe, Peyton made fun of himself a lot too, with the best take-down being part of a skit about a retirement home called Sunset Acres.
“I’m retired so I live in a retirement home. I’m a veteran but we have real WWII veterans here,” Manning said in the hilarious video.
Of course, every sports story has a rivalry — and Manning had it out for fellow resident Ruth, who just happened to be Tom Brady‘s grandmother.
“Did you win five Super Bowls too?” she asked while Facetiming with her famous grandkid. Ouch.
Off-camera award winners
Announcements during in the commercial break included LeBron James winning Best NBA Player and Serena Williams nabbing Best Tennis Player, both of which scored huge rounds of applause even as guests made quick bathroom or bar breaks.
Serious Stewart
Jon Stewart was uncharacteristically serious when he presented the Pat Tillman Award for Service, and paused during his opening to allow the audience to cheer.
“Israel ‘DT’ Del Toro looked me in the eyes and said one thing: ‘Fear me bro,'” Stewart said of his first meeting of the recipient.
“When he heard he was getting the award he texted and said ‘holy cow, my phone is blowing up. Is this what it’s like to be a celebrity?’ Then moments later, he texted back and said ‘blowing up’ probably wasn’t the right thing to say.”
Sparking laughter from the crowd even during the emotional presentation, it soon fell into a quiet hush seeing the extent of DT’s injuries after driving over a roadside bomb.
DT’s walk onto the stage to collect his award — and a hug from Stewart — earned him the first standing ovation of the night. And then he dropped the first F-bomb. “I will never f—ing quit on you.” And then he got the second standing ovation of the night.
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Love for “Dunkirk”
DT’s speech was followed by a special preview of “Dunkirk” featuring Cillian Murphy to keep with the military theme of the segment. It’s safe to say, that secured a lot of movie ticket sales.
Sweating red carpet
It was hot, hot, hot in the city. With Los Angeles going through a heatwave, the normally steamy ESPYs red carpet was like a sweat box earlier in the day, with athletes and reporters melting in the sun. While the most frequently asked question at the Oscars and Emmys is “who are you wearing?” at the 2017 ESPYs it was “do you have any water?”
Cubs confusion
When diehard Cubs fan Nick Offerman came out to present the Best Moment award to the Chicago curse-breakers, everyone thought the team would accept the award — and seemed genuinely shocked when Bill Murray joined him instead.
“108 years of waiting is hardly a moment … 108 years is momentum,” the “Groundhog Day” actor said. Proving he really is a talented bartender, Murray then grabbed a bottle of champagne from a “janitor” and opened it with a machete. If they were mystified before, no one guessed it was World Series star and “Dancing with the Stars” alum David Ross cleaning the floors. The trio made such a mess with their bubbly that real janitors had to come out to clean it up.
Julian Edelman beats Manning at his own game — again
When the Patriots came out to accept the award for Best Game, Edelman dropped a killer joke of his own. “I never thought I’d say this but Peyton Manning is kinda killing it … but we are indoors though,” he said.
Sat in the audience, Manning looked very unimpressed with the jab — but giggling Katie Couric behind him found it hilarious.
Dance Cam fails
The ESPYs version of the Dance Cam planted Snapchat style lips on stars’ faces — and proved that Aaron Rodgers shouldn’t go on “Dancing With the Stars” anytime soon. Talk about awkward moves … Michael Phelps had way more rhythm when it landed on him later and super imposed a football helmet on his head. “DWTS” could be another thing he can beat Ryan Lochte at.
Junior Jimmy V winner brings down the house
The Jimmy V Perseverance Award has gone to famous broadcasters like Stuart Scott and Craig Sager, but this year it was a 15-year-old cancer patient who got everyone in tears.
Jarrius “JJ” Robertson has turned into the sports world’s favorite little Saints and WWE fan thanks to his brave fight against liver cancer and multiple transplants. The pint-sized superstar is sharing the message of transplants through his endless energy and infectious smile, which he brought to the ESPYs stage. “There he is!” said surprised guests as he strutted to the stage and quoted Jimmy V. JJ then thanked the Who Dat nation and Stephanie McMahon of the WWE. “She’s much nicer in person than she is on TV,” he quipped. Now that was a speech worthy of Scott or Sager.
“I’ve got no make up left,” one tearful audience member sobbed afterwards.
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Late arrivals
Sometime s the g ame doesn’t start ’til the second quarter, and that was true for ESPN’s NFL guru Adam Schefter, who came in with his family an hour into the show and played usher getting them comfortably seated for the remainder of the ESPYs.
Emotional and thankful Berman
After losing his wife in a car crash just a few months ago, there was ripple of sympathy in the audience when Chris Berman came out to pay tribute to late SportsCenter host John Saunders. Talking of Saunders losing his battle with cancer before introducing the ESPYs In Memoriam section, Berman’s voice broke as he thanked everyone for the support after his wife’s death.
Gallant performed a melodic song over footage of the sports greats lost this year — but it was Craig Sager and Arnold Palmer that prompted eruptions from the audience.
Smooth jazz soundtrack
House band Crown and the M.O.B. added some smooth jazz moves to the commercial breaks — and even the king of product endorsements Peyton Manning appreciated that they were more fun to listen to than insurance ads. “Karaoke time,” didn’t quite get Steph Curry or Odell Beckham Jr. up singing to “Gin and Juice,” however.
Vin Scully is the real mayor of L.A.
In the City of Angels a few miles from both Dodger Stadium and Hollywood, it’s no surprise that the hometown audience adored Bryan Cranston’s monologue on Vin Scully.
“Vin Scully was summer — as refreshing as the smell of cut grass,” the “Breaking Bad” actor said, recalling his first game listening to Scully, the “surrogate father.”
“It is my lifetime honor to present the Icon Award to the incomparable Vin Scully,” he added.
The audience gave Vin a standing ovation and then squealed with delight when he delivered his signature line: “Hi everyone and a very pleasant good evening to you.”
Bromance on the front row
They were utter rivals in Super Bowl XLIX, when the Patriots snatched a victory after a blown call by Pete Carroll, but Richard Sherman and Julian Edelman looked like best pals when they hugged it out and chatted on the front row during one break. Let’s see if their little bromance lasts past Sherman’s new team, the Oakland Raiders, meeting the Patriots in Mexico City next November. Yo Soy Fiesta, anyone? Edels also seemed to be the most popular person with selfie-hunting young fans too, as he posed for pics with kids during breaks.
Mutual respect for Michelle Obama
Manning’s announcement of Michelle Obama presenting the Arthur Ashe Courage Award left no one wondering about the political leanings of the crowd, which erupted into cheers, applause and with a single butt left in the seat as she took to the stage (yep, Mr. Clippers loves her too).
Obama looked just as moved as she introduced another female trailblazer, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, for her formation of the Special Olympics — from its inception in Chicago in 1968 to the groundbreaking 2015 Summer Games in Los Angeles. Eunice’s son Tim Shriver accepted the award, after diligently spending hours on the red carpet with Special Olympic athletes.
“Once a great First Lady, always a great First Lady,” he told Michelle, sparking the loudest scream of the night. “My mother would have loved you.”
The night before Special Olympics gold medalist Daina told TheWrap that she really hoped to share the stage with Obama — she got her wish, and stood side by side her icon.
Sounding like a true politician like his uncle JFK, Shriver said: “We will not stop until there’s true equality,” earning a rousing applause worthy of a campaign rally. On the red carpet, Tim told TheWrap that the current political reality made it even more important that we should be accepting of all different people.
Related stories from TheWrap:
ESPYs 2017: Red Carpet Arrivals (Photos)
ESPYs: Kevin Durant Pouts Hard Over Brutal Peyton Manning Monologue Dunk (Video)
ESPYs 2017 Winners: Simone Biles, Golden State Warriors, Chicago Cubs and More
