Jimmy Kimmel didn’t think he was here. But Kimmel has the skills to rise at this moment during a jarring period in the country’s history, as freedom is under attack and democracy rests solely on threads.
We remembered that when we returned to “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday. Kimmel puts a perfect tone, acknowledging the gravity of what happened, telling the audience that both sides of the aisle should cherish and celebrate free speech, and hasn’t made a joke about what Donald Trump has been doing in the last few days. Political satire has been a late-night staple since the dawn of the genre as a whole, and Kimmel was trying to make sure it didn’t go anywhere.
“I felt this was a crucial moment,” said one of the audience attending Tuesday’s taping. “It felt very cathartic, as if not everything was lost,” reminded me that some of the American promises can speak without fear of government threats.
We all love Jimmy, but he never asked him to be drafted to be the guardian of the country’s first amendment and freedom of speech. He is a late-night talk show host and not an activist. A comedian who simply enjoys the elected leaders of our country.
“This show isn’t important. The key is that we can live in a country where we can do shows like this,” Kimmel said.
But these days, just pointing out the blame of our government will make you an enemy of the nation. Kimmel found it last week, but he’s not the only one. President Trump is still celebrating the impending loss of “Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” And he promises that Jimmy Fallon and Seth Myers will be next. Trump is ready for the FCC, DOJ and other agencies to bid. Last week, the administration was very close to getting what it wanted.
The comedian, whose main job is to crack down on the audience and help the guest rotation cast promote their latest projects, let’s sink in for a second – he’s very embedded in Trump’s claws, who demand that his agency find a way to shut them up.
“I just want to say how uneasy I feel that late night is important,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” author Louis Burchel said on his podcast this week. “No one is thinking about this job,” do you know what I decided to joke about today, and what you decided to do with Melania Trump today? “On the other hand, Trump loves to accuse his hosts of being a poorly rated visiting person, but “he is the one who constantly nurtures how important these people’s speeches are every day.”
Like many Angelenos, I’m old enough to remember Kimmel was “Sports Guy” in Kroq’s “Kevin & Bean” and was waiting for the annual Christmas cassette he produced. Trust me, “Jimmy the Sports Guy” had no plans to become a national Lightning Rod for free speech. He began his career just wanting to entertain him on the radio.
But Kimmel’s tenacity and talent were always there, even as he waited for a big break at the Phoenix and Los Angeles stations. He didn’t even know that “Kevin & Bean” (famously, the host of the morning show even hired him – he quickly found success, like half of “Winn Ben Stein’s Money” sidekick and half of “Man Show” with Adam Colora.
Still, it was a leap in 2002 when then-ABC Entertainment president Lloyd Brown convinced Disney to hire Kimmel to launch an all-new late-night franchise. The show was rough at first as it struggled to book guests and was not cleared in some major markets. But Kimmel grew into that role. And with social media getting older and video sharing websites like YouTube launched, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” was in front of the pack, creating viral moments and turning the show into a must-see television.
Kimmel has always been personal – his family and friends have been part of the show from the start, including the late Uncle Frank, his aunt Chippy, his cousin Monkey, and his best friend’s leader, Creto Escobedo Jr. As the country faced tragedy like a school shooting, Kimmel was open and honest about how tragic the news is, and how frustrating he is with the lack of attempts to enact wise ways to stop gun violence.
Often Kimmel delivers those monologues with real tears in his eyes. It included an episode from Tuesday. There, Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika said, “He had forgiven the man who shot his husband. She forgives him. That’s an example we should follow. If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, it is an act of forgiveness of grace from the widow that I will grieve.
But first and foremost, Kimmel is about comedy. That’s always the case. A long running joke like his “feud” with Matt Damon. A practical joke that he pulls family and celebrities like John Krasinski. And unless Trump likes it, Kimmel is simply finding a way to laugh at all the darkness that holds our country.
When I last spoke with Kimmel in July, I optimistically shared that, even if some of our rights are stripped away, one thing they can’t take away from us is our joy. And he pointed out that there is still plenty to enjoy even within the Trump White House. “I learned today that Trump’s Stephen Miller’s nickname is “The Strange Stephen,” he told me that day. “Now, whether you like Trump or not, it’s a funny nickname to give people. You have to give credit where the credit comes. So, a lot of scary things are happening, but some interesting things are happening.
And Kimmel still shares a respect for making us laugh, as well as he continues to share his respect for comedy skills. That’s why he worships icons like David Letterman, Howard Stern and the late Norman Leah.
On Tuesday, Kimmel posted a photo of herself with Leah, who produced “live live in front of a studio audience.” Leah was a true hero. A World War II veterinarian who fought fascism, he worked on some of the most important issues of our time while returning home and building a career that made America laugh. Leah worshiped Kimmel, and he would have loved to watch the host on his TV screen tonight.
Jimmy Kimmel never thought he was here. But I’m happy he’s still.
