Watch Jimmy Kimmel Rehearse 2024 Oscars Jokes with Dog from “Anatomy of a Fall”: 'We Got a Winner'

The host bounced jokes off the canine, named Messi, in a funny clip shared to his Instagram grid on Sunday ahead of the 96th Academy Awards

Jimmy Kimmel isn't having a "ruff" time rehearsing for the Oscars 2024!

In a video posted to Instagram by the show's host on Sunday, Kimmel bounced some joke ideas off of a very special guest: Messi, the canine star of one of this year's Best Picture nominees Anatomy of a Fall.

The clip came amid rumors that the dog would not be in attendance on Hollywood's biggest night.

"What do you think of this?" Kimmel 56, asked his companion, before trying out a gag. "Casting is a huge part of any film. Without casting directors, how on Earth would Bradley Cooper have thought to cast Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro?"

When Messi didn't react, Kimmel tried again. "Okay, let me try another one: Casting is a delicate art. When you get it right, actors disappear into their roles. When you get it wrong, your audience asks questions like, 'Why do all the teenagers in Grease look like they've got kids and a reverse mortgage?' "

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Related: Canine Star of Anatomy of a Fall Attends Oscars Luncheon and Meets Ryan Gosling

That one didn't land with Messi either. The camera captured the pooch as he turned his head slowly and looked straight into the camera, clearly nonplussed.

Continued Kimmel, "Okay, maybe this one you'll like: If you think the show feels overly drawn out to you, imagine how Messi feels right now. In dog years, this show is five and a half months long!"

This time, the canine let out a bark of approval. "Oh good, okay, we got a winner," Kimmel concluded.

He captioned the fun footage, "Running jokes before the #Oscars…," adding the show's airtime.

Related: Jimmy Kimmel Reveals He Didn't Think He'd 'Ever' Return as Oscars Host — and How Barbie Made Him Reconsider

Despite his last-minute rehearsals, Kimmel does have his pregame drill down.

He has spent months spitballing jokes and will spin timely material into comedy gold right up until the ceremony begins. The host also has seen all 53 of this year's nominees — and, perhaps most taxing, has upped his gym game to get in tux-ready shape.

"I need to start working on my 'explosiveness,' " Kimmel, who is hosting the Oscars for the fourth time this year, recently told PEOPLE, before allowing that he has been living on "sad salads and a lot of pathetic boxed meals that are delivered to my home" as of late.

And the gig never gets old for him. "I feel like the Kansas City Chiefs going into this Oscars," Kimmel teased. "Like you’ve been there before, but it doesn’t make a difference. It’s still exciting and you still have to do well."

The 96th Academy Awards will air live on ABC from the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 10, at 7 p.m. ET.

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