Seth Rogen walked onto Jimmy Kimmel Live! with four fresh Emmys and the grin of a man who finally got his flowers. Then he told America something better. Before the golden TV people, he won a bong.
“I was… back-to-back winner of the High Times Stoner of the Year,” he said. And then the kicker. “The award itself is a bong mounted on a little pedestal, and I broke both of them… smoking from them.”
That is the energy. Hardware you can hit.
Kimmel, being Kimmel, poked the bear. “You’re saying High Times had a poorly constructed trophy.”
Rogen didn’t blink. “Exactly. A poorly constructed bong trophy.”
We’ll allow it. Those things lived hard. They did what they were born to do.
He also fired off a perfect Seth-ism about his TV sweep. “I got a lot of Emmys. I went from no Emmys to a lot of Emmys in one night.” That is how you summarize a career pivot. One minute, you’re the guy who made the world laugh at the smell of Pineapple Express. Next minute, you are the guy who collects statues for making Hollywood laugh at itself.
Now, about that “back-to-back” claim. Wikipedia will tell you he only won once. Not that it matters, really. Who knows which massive stoner is forgetting stuff: Rogen or the High Times crew? The story is hilarious either way.
The rest of the couch hang was classic late-night. Rogen revived his bit that he’s “banned” from presenting at the Emmys after roasting a COVID-era tent that wasn’t actually outdoors. Kimmel played it straight, “confirming” the ban for the laugh. Bit landed. On to the next.
Then came the Vin Diesel story. Earlier this year, Seth joked that his dream cameo for season two of The Studio was Vin. A few weeks later, a woman at a party says, “You have to meet my husband.” Plot twist: it’s Vin. “I hear you want me on your show. What’s the idea?” Seth had nothing. He spitballed the safest words possible: “Cars and family.” Vin: “Perfect. That’s my thing.” Cut, print.
Rogen also plugged Good Fortune, written and directed by Aziz Ansari, with Keanu Reeves playing an angel. Shot in Los Angeles. Seth says Keanu is “unbelievably funny.” A bus driver even hit the flashers, hopped out for a selfie with him, then drove a full bus away like nothing happened. Only in L.A.
Why it matters to High Times readers is simple. The Emmys crowned The Studio. Years earlier, our scene crowned Seth. Seeing him on network TV say his first trophy was a High Times bong ties the mainstream to the culture that got him here. That’s the story.
Photo courtesy of Celebstoner.
