Emmys 2012: 17 appropriate reactions to Tracy Morgan's prank

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In one of the stranger moments during Sunday night's Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, host Jimmy Kimmel called on a volunteer--a game Tracy Morgan--and had him pretend to pass out on the stage. Kimmel then instructed the audience at home to tweet out a message intended to drum up social media chatter (and television ratings):

Oh my God - Tracy Morgan just passed out onstage at the Emmys - turn ABC on NOW!"

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) September 24, 2012

According to the @TwitterTV account, Kimmel and Morgan's stunt instantly got 25,000 tweets and "Omg Tracy Morgan" was trending worldwide.

Morgan proceeded to lay on the stage through the next commercial break and several minutes into the broadcast, but Kimmel's attempt at raising interest may have fallen flat, particularly for those who did actually tune in as instructed.

MTV blogger Jose Iniguez's tweet may have summed it up best:

Tracy Morgan #Emmys stunt like that #Survivor who lied about Granny's death for pity vote: got them far but big turn off if you fell for it.

— Jose m iniguez (@imJmi) September 24, 2012

All in all, Twitter reacted with the appropriate amount of eye-rolling and sarcasm at the Emmy host's attempt at crowd sourcing comedy. Here are 17 of Twitter's reactions:

1.

OMG, Tracy Morgan is sleeping through the Emmys, like everyone else. Turn off your TV.

— Troy Bynum (@TroyBynum) September 24, 2012

2.

OMG! Tracy Morgan just passed out on stage at Emmy's! I'm watching on tivo.

— David Higgins (@DAnthonyHiggins) September 24, 2012

3. The always helpful Stephen Colbert:

Omg Tracy morgan just passed out on the Emmys!

— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) September 24, 2012

4.

The sad thing is, some day Tracy Morgan really will pass out on live TV and now none of us will be able to save him by tweeting about it

— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) September 24, 2012

5.

The joke's on you, Kimmel.Tracy Morgan died during the Homeland writer's speech.

— Damon Lindelof (@DamonLindelof) September 24, 2012

6.

If you're wondering, Tracy Morgan is still laying down on the stage during this commercial break. Crew just walking around him. #emmys

— Denise Martin (@denisemartin) September 24, 2012

7.

OMG Tracy Morgan just passed out atthe Emmy’s turn the Oprah Winfrey Network on now!

— Mikey (@fsmikey) September 24, 2012

8.

This would be a terrible time for Tracy Morgan to actually slip into a coma. #Emmys

— anne t. donahue (@annetdonahue) September 24, 2012

9.

This is Tracy Morgan's greatest role yet.

— Ben Greenman (@bengreenman) September 24, 2012

10 and 11. Invisible Obama got a few shout-outs.

Is Tracy Morgan the new invisible chair? #emmys #justignoreit

— Annie Barrett (@EWAnnieBarrett) September 24, 2012

Invisible Obama just knocked out Tracy Morgan at the Emmy's.

— Bearded Stoner (@beardedstoner) September 24, 2012

12.

I'm actually surprised how many people just tweeted that Tracy Morgan thing. #emmys

— Corrigan Vaughan (@nerdsrocket) September 24, 2012

13.

Tracy Morgan is laid out on the #Emmys2012 stage. We aren't even going to comment.

— CNN Entertainment (@CNNshowbiz) September 24, 2012

14.

OMG TRACY MORGAN WAS JUST BODILY ASSUMED INTO HEAVEN AT THE EMMYS

— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) September 24, 2012

15.

OMG Tracy Morgan just killed three people & self on the #emmys!

— Terry Bain (@TerryBain) September 24, 2012

16.

Omg TRACY MORGAN JUST PASSED OUT ON STAGE AT THE EMMYS!!! (wheres my money)

— crystabel riley(@boredbarbara) September 24, 2012

17.

Omg Tracy Morgan just passed out in the lobby of the Beverly Wilshire, seriously, not a prank, WHY WON'T ANYONE HELP HIM?

— rodneyrothman (@rodneyrothman) September 24, 2012