Jimmy Kimmel Live!: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Jimmy Kimmel Live! grew out of Los Angeles radio, basic-cable guy comedy and the Letterman school of ironic broadcasting, then matured into a monologue-driven political forum. This mix traces the talk-show lineage Kimmel absorbed, the KROQ and Hollywood scene that made him, the partners who built the Jackhole sensibility, and the hosts who inherited the viral-bit era he helped invent.

The Kynda mix for Jimmy Kimmel Live!

• Key Influence · Late Night with David Letterman by David Letterman (1982). Kimmel has repeatedly named Letterman as the reason he wanted a talk show, and the NBC Late Night template is all over JKL: the anti-host posture, the recurring low-budget remote bits, the staff and security guard turned on-air characters (Guillermo as Kimmel's Larry 'Bud' Melman), the willingness to let an interview curdle. Kimmel even relocated to 11:35 against Letterman in 2013 while calling him the standard.','medium'
• Influencia Obscura · Fernwood 2 Night by Martin Mull and Fred Willard (1977). Norman Lear's syndicated parody of a small-town talk show, with Mull as a smarmy host and Willard as a cheerfully dim sidekick, is the hidden ancestor of the ironic late-night format Kimmel works in: the host as character, the sidekick as comic ballast, the apparatus of talk television treated as the joke. Kimmel later worked directly with Lear on live sitcom restagings, closing the loop.
• Local Roots · Loveline by Adam Carolla and Drew Pinsky (1995). The other great KROQ export of the 1990s. Kimmel met Carolla through Los Angeles radio, and the Loveline sensibility — blunt, improvisational, built on callers and riffing — fed straight into The Man Show and Crank Yankers, the partnership that made Kimmel bankable enough for ABC to hand him a post-Super Bowl launch in 2003. Southern California radio, not New York clubs, is JKL's real birthplace.
• Beyond the Medium · Candid Camera by Allen Funt (1948). Funt's hidden-camera format invented the idea that ordinary people ambushed on tape are the content. JKL's signature non-interview segments — Lie Witness News, Celebrities Read Mean Tweets, the Halloween candy prank, Pedestrian Question — are Candid Camera grafted onto a desk show, and they are what made Kimmel a YouTube-era force rather than merely a broadcast one.
• Peer · Late Night with Conan O'Brien by Conan O'Brien (1993). The host Kimmel's generation measured itself against: absurdist, bit-heavy, happy to let a desk piece collapse. Conan's remotes and recurring characters ran parallel to JKL's throughout the 2000s, and the two shared the post-Carson problem of proving a non-institutional comic could hold a network hour. Kimmel publicly sided with O'Brien during the 2010 Tonight Show conflict, mocking Leno on air.
• Key Collaborator · The Adam Carolla Show by Adam Carolla (2009). Carolla is the collaborator who made Kimmel's career possible: KROQ colleague, Man Show co-host, Crank Yankers co-creator and Jackhole partner. His record-setting podcast shows the unfiltered riffing engine that powered that partnership, and the contrast illuminates what Kimmel kept and what he shed when he moved from basic cable to a network desk in 2003.
• Legacy · The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon by Jimmy Fallon (2014). Fallon's Tonight Show is the full institutionalization of the strategy JKL proved first: design segments to be clipped and shared, make celebrity guests play games rather than plug, and treat the next morning's view count as the real ratings. Kimmel's mean tweets and street pranks demonstrated that a broadcast talk show could live online; Fallon built an entire franchise on the premise.

What influenced Jimmy Kimmel Live!

• Late Night with David Letterman by David Letterman (1982). Late Night with David Letterman (David Letterman) — titan for Jimmy Kimmel Live! “was stunted early on by an ABC affiliate body which was fulfilling existing syndication contracts for post-local news sitcom repeats and entertainment newsmagazines (thus delaying the show making the "Live!" title somewhat of a misnomer)…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson by Johnny Carson (1962). The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (Johnny Carson) — titan for Jimmy Kimmel Live! “It is the second longest-running late-night talk show, by host, on any network surpassed only by The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• This Is Spinal Tap by Rob Reiner (1984). This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner) — culture for Jimmy Kimmel Live! “He said it "may be the last time you ever see me", in reference to the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Candid Camera by Allen Funt (1948). Candid Camera (Allen Funt) — culture for Jimmy Kimmel Live! (themoviedb.org)
• Jackass: The Movie by Jeff Tremaine (2002). Jackass: The Movie (Jeff Tremaine) — culture for Jimmy Kimmel Live! (themoviedb.org)
• Fernwood 2 Night by Martin Mull and Fred Willard (1977). Fernwood 2 Night (Martin Mull and Fred Willard) — ghost for Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• The Howard Stern Show by Howard Stern (1986). The Howard Stern Show (Howard Stern) — titan for Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• Kevin & Bean by Kevin Ryder and Gene 'Bean' Baxter (1990). Kevin & Bean (Kevin Ryder and Gene 'Bean' Baxter) — ghost for Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Peers and kindred spirits

• Lou Wilson. Wilson succeeded Barrett as the show's announcer. “I was writing for the show, and I didn’t know that Dickie was leaving or that they needed a new announcer.” (Vulture)
• The Cletones. The Cletones serve as the show's house band. “The Cletones play the show's opening and closing themes and play into and out of commercial breaks. (They usually play through the entire break for the studio audience.)” (Wikipedia)
• Guillermo Rodriguez. Rodriguez became the show's sidekick. “Guillermo Rodriguez discusses working on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for more than 20 years, his bond with Jimmy Kimmel, his favorite guests and more.” (Good Morning America)
• Andy Milonakis. Milonakis served as an announcer and appeared in comedy bits. “Wilson is the show’s third regular announcer, after Barrett and Andy Milonakis (2003–2004).” (Vulture)
• Cleto Escobedo III. Escobedo III co-wrote the show's opening theme. “the house band is still fronted by Jimmy Kimmel’s childhood friend Cleto Escobedo III” (Vulture)
• 12:05 AM Productions, LLC. 12:05 AM Productions, LLC is named as the show's producer. ““Jimmy Kimmel Live” is produced by 12:05 AM Productions, LLC, in association with Kimmelot and ABC Signature.” (Kimmelot)
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson by Craig Ferguson (2005). The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (Craig Ferguson) — geography for Jimmy Kimmel Live! “The cold open device was later adopted by The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson , and it was used by James Corden for occasional segments for his version .” (Wikipedia)
• Kimmelot. Kimmelot is named as an associated production company. ““Jimmy Kimmel Live” is produced by 12:05 AM Productions, LLC, in association with Kimmelot and ABC Signature.” (Kimmelot)
• Dicky Barrett. Barrett became the show's announcer. “until recently, the show was announced by Dicky Barrett of Mighty Mighty Bosstones fame.” (Vulture)
• Molly McNearney. McNearney is credited as a writer. “Jimmy Kimmel, Erin Irwin, Molly McNearney, Jennifer Sharron and David Craig serve as executive producers; Douglas DeLuca serves as co-executive producer.” (Kimmelot)
• Sarah Silverman. Jimmy Kimmel Live! (Jimmy Kimmel) — collaborator for Sarah Silverman (also via Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic) “On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Silverman parodied sketches from Chappelle's Show, replaying Dave Chappelle's characterizations of Rick James and "Tyrone" as well as a Donnell Rawlings character based on the miniseries Roots.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Danny Ricker. Ricker is credited as a writer. “Written by Molly McNearney Danny Ricker Steve O'Donnell Directed by Andy Fisher Presented by Jimmy Kimmel [ a ] Starring Guillermo Rodriguez Sal Iacono” (Wikipedia)
• Andy Fisher. Fisher is credited as the show's director. “Written by Molly McNearney Danny Ricker Steve O'Donnell Directed by Andy Fisher Presented by Jimmy Kimmel [ a ] Starring Guillermo Rodriguez Sal Iacono” (Wikipedia)
• The Late Late Show with James Corden by James Corden (2015). The Late Late Show with James Corden (James Corden) — peer for Jimmy Kimmel Live! “(These, better known as "integrated commercials", are rarely repeated.) The cold open device was later adopted by The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and it was used by James Corden for occasional segments for his version.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Jackhole Productions. Jackhole Productions is listed as a production company. “Production companies Jackhole Productions (2003–2020) Kimmelot (2020–present) 20th Television [ c ] Original release Network ABC” (Wikipedia)
• Jonathan Kimmel. Jonathan Kimmel co-wrote the show's opening theme. “The show's opening theme was written by Les Pierce, Jonathan Kimmel , and Cleto Escobedo III and sung by Robert Goulet .” (Wikipedia)
• Jimmy Kimmel. Kimmel created and hosts the show. “Jimmy Kimmel Live! is an American late-night talk show , created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel , and broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC).” (Wikipedia)
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien by Conan O'Brien (1993). Late Night with Conan O'Brien (Conan O'Brien) — peer for Jimmy Kimmel Live! “was stunted early on by an ABC affiliate body which was fulfilling existing syndication contracts for post-local news sitcom repeats and entertainment newsmagazines (thus delaying the show making the "Live!" title somewhat of a misnomer)…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Les Pierce. Pierce co-wrote the show's opening theme. “The show's opening theme was written by Les Pierce, Jonathan Kimmel , and Cleto Escobedo III and sung by Robert Goulet .” (Wikipedia)
• ABC Signature. Kimmelot names ABC Signature as associated with the show's production. ““Jimmy Kimmel Live” is produced by 12:05 AM Productions, LLC, in association with Kimmelot and ABC Signature.” (Kimmelot)
• 20th Television. 20th Television is named as an associated production company. “Jimmy Kimmel Live! is produced by 12:05 AM Productions, LLC, in association with Kimmelot and 20th Television .” (Wikipedia)
• Robert Goulet. Goulet sang the show's opening theme. “The show's opening theme was written by Les Pierce, Jonathan Kimmel , and Cleto Escobedo III and sung by Robert Goulet .” (Wikipedia)
• Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic by Sarah Silverman (2005). Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic (Sarah Silverman) — collaborator for Jimmy Kimmel Live! “==== "I'm fucking Matt Damon" video ==== In a segment that aired on January 31, 2008, Kimmel's then long-time girlfriend Sarah Silverman appeared on the show and announced, via a music video, that she had been "fucking Matt Damon." Damon…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Don Barris. Barris has served as the show's audience warmup comic. “Since its inception, stand-up comedian Don Barris has performed as the warmup comic for the in-studio audience, although he rarely appears on camera;” (Wikipedia)
• Steve O'Donnell. O'Donnell is credited as a writer. “Written by Molly McNearney Danny Ricker Steve O'Donnell Directed by Andy Fisher Presented by Jimmy Kimmel [ a ] Starring Guillermo Rodriguez Sal Iacono” (Wikipedia)
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart by Jon Stewart (1999). The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Jon Stewart) — peer for Jimmy Kimmel Live! “Following the subsequent retirements of Jay Leno in February 2014, David Letterman in May 2015, and Jon Stewart in August 2015, Kimmel became the second-longest serving current host in late-night television after Conan O'Brien.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Adam Carolla Show by Adam Carolla (2009). The Adam Carolla Show (Adam Carolla) — collaborator for Jimmy Kimmel Live! “On May 18, 2011, Carolla noted on Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Loveline by Adam Carolla and Drew Pinsky (1995). Loveline (Adam Carolla and Drew Pinsky) — geography for Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• Live in Front of a Studio Audience by Norman Lear (2019). Live in Front of a Studio Audience (Norman Lear) — collaborator for Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• Mr. Show with Bob and David by Bob Odenkirk and David Cross (1995). Mr. Show with Bob and David (Bob Odenkirk and David Cross) — geography for Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Who Jimmy Kimmel Live! influenced

• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert by Stephen Colbert (2015). The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (Stephen Colbert) — legacy for Jimmy Kimmel Live! “On the same night, Colbert was a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! which was broadcast from Brooklyn that week. Colbert filmed his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's show first and then the two traveled to the Ed Sullivan Theater to film Kimmel's in…” (Wikipedia)
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon by Jimmy Fallon (2014). The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (Jimmy Fallon) — legacy for Jimmy Kimmel Live! “On an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Damon praised Fallon for his speedy invitation process, which Kimmel poked fun of.” (en.wikipedia.org)