Sean Spicer's Surprise Emmys 2017 Appearance Shocks Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, CA — Hollywood awards shows and borderline shocking political jokes are nothing new. They're actually to be expected at this point. But no one saw this one coming.

First-time host Stephen Colbert kicked off the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards with the standard shoutout to all the best series nominees, including "Stranger Things" as well as broadcast television's standout "This Is Us." He also garnered a round of applause when he acknowledged that for the third year in a row, this is the most diverse show in Emmy history.

But what happened next caught every celeb seated in the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles off guard.

Colbert cited President Trump's previous Emmy loss and noted: "Because unlike the presidency, Emmy's go to the winner of the popular vote." But jaws dropped when, after the joke, former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer took the stage behind a fake Emmy podium.

Check out the complete list of Emmy winners here.

Taking the jokes in stride, Spicer laughed and waved to the crowd. Then the camera panned toward an extremely shocked Melissa McCarthy whose spoof of Trump's ex-press secretary on "Saturday Night Live" triggered outrage from Spicer earlier this year. It also won McCarthy an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Image credit: Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer speaks onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 17 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)