Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, and Lily Tomlin Had a 9 to 5 Reunion at the 2017 Emmy Awards
You couldn’t turn on the 2017 Emmy Awards and not see a political jab, joke, or statement being made by everyone from Stephen Colbert to Sean Spicer himself. But one of the night’s very best digs came from a trio of working ladies (or “nasty women,” as President Donald Trump might call them) when they reunited on the Emmy stage: 9 to 5’s Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, and Lily Tomlin.
As if seeing Fonda, Parton, and Tomlin all together again was not epic enough (they were there to present the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series), the women also took the opportunity to make a not-so-subtle comment about the current POTUS (without even mentioning his name). “I have been looking forward to a 9 to 5 reunion, and tonight’s the night,” Parton began. “Back in 1980, in that movie, we refused to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot,” Fonda continued.
Tomlin then chimed in with a burn so on point it hurts: “And in 2017, we still refuse to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot,” she said, to rousing applause.
The 9 to 5 stars, who fought against sexual harassment, unfair treatment, and sexist stereotypes in the ’80s film, were originally supposed to reunite at the 2017 SAG Awards, where Tomlin was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her costars. However, Fonda was not able to attend at the last minute due to an illness.
As is becoming traditional at awards shows since the 2017 presidential election, Tomlin also spoke out against Trump and his policies in her SAG Awards speech. “What sign should I make for the next march?” she asked, referencing the Women’s March. “Global warming, Standing Rock, LGBT issues, Chinese missiles…. There’s lots to do…. We can all go out and really change things, and as long as I don’t have to audition, I just may be back.”
Related: Jane Fonda Looks Incredible on the 2017 Emmys Red Carpet
Jane Fonda opens up about doing a sex scene at 78:
