Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer surprised the audience at the 69th Emmy Awards Sunday night at the outset of the show when host Stephen Colbert introduced him during his opening monologue.
Colbert was talking about the importance of ratings and wondered how he could predict the audience size of the Emmys.
"At this point we have no way of knowing how big our audience is. I mean, is there anyone who can say how big the audience is? Sean, do you know?" Colbert asked.
Spicer then rolled out onto the stage behind a podium much like the one he used in the White House briefing room, but this one was labeled, "The Emmys, Hollywood."
"This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys. Period. Both in person and around the world," Spicer proclaimed, an allusion to Spicer's first press conference where he made a similar statement about the crowd at the inauguration.
Colbert began the show with a song that highlighted the ills of the current world, but offered consolation by singing, "The world's a little better on TV." He gave his first poke at the president just a few minutes into his monologue when he talked about how much TV Trump watches.
Colbert also explained how Trump had been nominated "multiple times for his show 'Celebrity Apprentice,' but he never won."
"If he had won an Emmy, I bet he never would have run for president. So, in a way, this is all your fault. I thought you loved morally compromised anti-heroes," Colbert said, then mentioned how Trump had criticized comedian and talk show host Seth Meyers when he hosted the Emmys in 2014.
"That Seth Meyers is hosting the Emmy Awards is a total joke. He is very awkward with almost no talent. Marbles in his mouth!" Trump tweeted.
Colbert cut to Meyers in the audience and asked him if he had a reply, to which he emptied a mouthful of marbles.
Colbert explained "the biggest TV star of the last year is Donald Trump — and Alec Baldwin, obviously."
Baldwin has portrayed the president numerous times on "Saturday Night Live." He won an Emmy Sunday night for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
"I suppose I should say at long last, Mr. President, here is your Emmy," Baldwin said upon accepting the award.
"Saturday Night Live" took home several awards including cast member Kate McKinnon who won an award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Actress Melissa McCarthy won for Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Spicer on the show. And the comedy show won for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series.
Colbert said Trump influenced every show "in some way — all the late night shows, obviously, House of Cards, the new season of American Horror Story, next year's Latin Grammys hosted by Sheriff Joe Arpaio."
The Emmys have been labeled TV's most prestigious awards show and the latest edition took place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony recognizes the top TV programs in 32 categories.
Celebrities often use awards ceremonies as a platform to make a political statement and Trump was targeted at the Tony Awards this past June. Colbert took a swipe at Trump during that ceremony, as did actors Cynthia Nixon, Sally Field and the show's host Kevin Spacey.
Politics played a role in the Academy Awards in February over a controversy about racial diversity when only white actors were nominated for the major acting awards.
One notable example of an actor using the stage as a pulpit came in 1973 when actor Marlon Brando refused to accept the award for his role in "The Godfather" over criticism of the treatment of American Indians in the film industry and events surrounding the Wounded Knee massacre in 1890.
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