James Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel (born November 13, 1967) is a comedian best known for co-hosting Comedy Central’s “Win Ben Stein’s Money” and “The Man Show” and for currently hosting the late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC.
Kimmel was a contestant on the U.S. version of the show on October 8 & 15, 2001. Jimmy won $125,000 for the Doug Flutie Jr. Autism foundation. On January 8, 2020, it was announced that ABC would revive Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? for a special 20th Anniversary Celebration, featuring various celebrity contestants, with Kimmel as the new host and co-executive producer, which premiered on April 8 on ABC.[1]
In 1997, Kimmel made the leap from radio to TV as the co-host of the game show Win Ben Stein's Money. Two years later, he established a production company called Jackhole Industries. Once he had several hit shows under his belt, ABC showed an interest in him as a potential late night talk show host. Jimmy Kimmel Live hit the air in 2003. When he was just nine years old, Kimmel moved with his parents Jim and Joan and siblings Johnathan and Jill to Las Vegas. The eldest son of three, Kimmel proved to be a meticulous artist and excellent student, earning straight A's all through high school. It was during his teenage years that Kimmel discovered his idol in David Letterman. Kimmel's first real foray into performance was as a college radio disc jockey. after testing the airwaves at UNLV and Arizona State University, Kimmel began his professional radio career at age 21.
Bouncing from market to market in cities like Seattle, Phoenix and Tucson, Kimmel eventually found a home in Los Angeles' famed KROQ, working as "Jimmy The Sports Guy" on The Kevin and Bean Show. In 1997, Kimmel made the leap to television, debuting on the small screen as the co-host of the Comedy Central game show Win Ben Stein's Money where Kimmel provided a comic counterpoint for the show's eponymous challenger. Stein and Kimmel won a 1999 Daytime Emmy for Best Game Show Host and a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2001. Two years into his game show success, Kimmel, in cooperation with his longtime friends Adam Carolla and Daniel Kellison, established a production company under the name Jackhole Industries. The trio began developing comedy shows through Jackhole and pitching them to various networks. In 1999, the company pitched one of the projects called The Man Show to Comedy Central. Billed as the "Anti-Oprah", the half-hour comedy show glorified testosterone and featured beer chugging, models bouncing on trampolines, and toilet humor. Hitting new heights in comedy, the show was a runaway success for the network and led to Kimmel's frequent appearances as a commentator for FOX's NFL Sunday.
After their Man Show achievements, Kimmel and his company created the 2002 show Crank Yankers for Comedy Central. The show depicted puppets acting out previously recorded prank phone calls voiced by comedic celebrities such as David Alan Grier, Dave Chappelle, Dane Cook, Seth MacFarlane, Wanda Sykes, Sarah Silverman and even Kimmel's own children. Unfortunately, as Kimmel's show business career thrived, his marriage began to dissolve. In 2003, his former ex-wife Gina filed for divorce as Kimmel sought solace in friend and Crank Yankers compatriot Sarah Silverman as the two began dating shortly thereafter, making an alternately sweet and antagonistic team, one with an unusual penchant for sharing personal details in a highly public way. Eventually, Kimmel and Silverman briefly split up in 2008 and after reuniting later that year, the couple broke up for a second and final time in 2009. Shortly after the break-up, Kimmel made a TV appearance on The View. When asked why the relationship ended, Kimmel responded, “What do you mean, what happened? Look at me, What do you think happened? I'm a 41-year-old man with a bra filled Koosh balls. I'm an imbecile, she couldn't date an imbecile anymore.” However, Kimmel and Silverman remain close friends.
Kimmel's talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! debuted January 26, 2003 on ABC to mediocre reviews. However, thousands of episodes later, Kimmel has earned the respect of A-list guests and beat out rival late-night talk shows in the ratings, including his former idol David Letterman. Over the show's decade-long run, ABC has repeatedly extended Kimmel's contract due to his continued success as a host. In 2012, the network announced that it would move Jimmy Kimmel Live! to an earlier time slot to compete against NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Kimmel began dating Molly McNearney, a co-head writer on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2009. In August 2012, Kimmel and McNearney announced their engagement.
In 2020, Kimmel became the host of the revived primetime edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. He was previously on the show as a contestant in 2001, winning $125,000 for charity.
WWTBAM Run as Contestant[]
Fastest Finger Question[]
Fastest Finger Question
Put the following TV catch phrases in the order of their original debut, starting with the earliest.
⬥ A: Kiss my grits
⬥ B: Yada, yada
⬥ C: Yabba-dabba-doo
⬥ D: Don’t have a cow, man
The correct answer was C-A-D-B. Out of 8 contestants, Jimmy was the only one to get it in 5.71 seconds. The klaxon then called time, so Jimmy will start his game next week.
Jimmy’s Run to the Million[]
$100 (1 of 15) - Not Timed
At a restaurant, a person who "foots the bill” does what?
⬥ A: Kisses it
⬥ B: Pays it
⬥ C: Rips it up
⬥ D: Hopes to get lucky
$200 (2 of 15) - Not Timed
What professional would most likely say, “You have a leaking intake manifold gasket"?
⬥ A: Auto mechanic
⬥ B: Gardener
⬥ C: Waiter
⬥ D: Proctologist
$300 (3 of 15) - Not Timed
Which of these articles of clothing is most likely to be of a clip-on variety?
⬥ A: Pants
⬥ B: Tie
⬥ C: Shirt
⬥ D: Athletic supporter
$500 (4 of 15) - Not Timed
A flabbergasted person is best described as what?
⬥ A: Tired
⬥ B: Jealous
⬥ C: Shocked
⬥ D: Competitive
$1,000 (5 of 15) - Not Timed
What animal uses its long sticky tongue to capture prey?
⬥ A: Frog
⬥ B: Wolf
⬥ C: Eagle
⬥ D: Lion
$2,000 (6 of 15) - Not Timed
The ability to know something without using reasoned thought is called what?
⬥ A: Introspection
⬥ B: Pragmatism
⬥ C: Intuition
⬥ D: Deduction
$4,000 (7 of 15) - Not Timed
Who did the media nickname the "Long Island Lolita"?
⬥ A: Linda Tripp
⬥ B: Amy Fisher
⬥ C: Lorena Bobbitt
⬥ D: Tonya Harding
$8,000 (8 of 15) - Not Timed
In 1985, Eddie Murphy reached #2 on the Billboard charts with what song?
⬥ A: Party All the Time
⬥ B: Don’t Be Cruel
⬥ C: Fight the Power
⬥ D: Easy Lover
$16,000 (9 of 15) - Not Timed
In September 2001, actress Anne Heche released her autobiography entitled "Call Me" what?
⬥ A: Pushy
⬥ B: Lonely
⬥ C: Crazy
⬥ D: Stupid
$32,000 (10 of 15) - Not Timed
What metal is the primary component of steel?
⬥ A: Aluminum
⬥ B: Lead
⬥ C: Tin
⬥ D: Iron
$64,000 (11 of 15) - Not Timed
In 1977, a 21-year-old Bill Gates dropped out of what university to start up Microsoft? “Ask the Audience” lifeline used.
On the TV series "Sesame Street," Big Bird always remains what age? “50:50” lifeline used.
⬥ A: 2
⬥ B: 3
⬥ C: 6
⬥ D: 8
$250,000 (13 of 15) - Not Timed
Where in the human body would you find the "Bowman's capsule"? “Phone-a-Friend” lifeline used.
⬥ A: Brain
⬥ B: Kidneys
⬥ C: Stomach
⬥ D: Lungs
Jimmy decides to call his old co-host, Ben Stein. Ben, however, is stumped and does not give a response.
Jimmy decides to walk with $125,000. B: Kidneys was the correct answer.
Total Prize Money: $125,000
Record as Ask the Host lifeline[]
As the new host and co-executive producer of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? since 2020, Jimmy Kimmel often self-deprecates that despite winning $125,000 back when he himself was a contestant back in 2001, he's "not too bright", but more often than not, he usually nails it when used as the Ask the Host lifeline. So far, as of the conclusion of the first rebooted series in spring 2020, the only recorded incident in which he got it wrong was on Kaitlin Olson's $125,000 question.
As of the 2024 season, Jimmy Kimmel had one opportunity to assist the contestants on the $1,000,000 question: Ike and Alan Barinholtz kept Ask the Host until the very end of their run. Before being asked formally, he jokingly lamented that he "hates" this lifeline, saying that Regis Philbin never had to do this. Nevertheless, Jimmy provided the help - and his chosen answer proved to be the correct one for Barinholtz family.
Season 1 (2020 reboot)[]
Jimmy Kimmel's total right-wrong record for this season stands at 7 correct guesses, 1 incorrect guess.
The human body commonly enters a state called the "cephalic phase" before doing what? "Ask the Host" lifeline used.
⬥ A: Going to sleep
⬥ B: Eating a meal
⬥ C: Having sex
⬥ D: Going into shock
Kaitlin's initial instinct was C: Having sex, but just to double-check, she decided to Ask the Host for his opinion, and it turns out that Jimmy had a vastly different opinion; he noted that the word "phallic" is typically spelled with two Ls, and that this question is asking for a completely different word, and he also recalled a personal family story in which his grandfather went into shock, so he makes an educated guess for D: Going into shock. Kaitlin decides to trust Jimmy, but much to both Kaitlin and Jimmy's surprise, the correct answer was actually B: Eating a meal. This is the first recorded incident in which Jimmy Kimmel got it wrong when used as a lifeline.
How does the composer and lyricist of the Broadway musical "Jagged Little Pill" spell her name? "Ask the Host" lifeline used.
⬥ A: M-O-R-R-I-S-E-T-T-E
⬥ B: M-O-R-I-S-S-E-T-T-E
⬥ C: M-O-R-R-I-S-S-E-T-T-E
⬥ D: M-O-R-I-S-E-T-T-E
Lauren decided to put her trust in the host, despite knowing that he did not know the answer to Kaitlin Olson's $125,000 question (although he nailed it on every previous occasion prior to that incident). Fortunately for Lauren, Jimmy Kimmel is able to redeem himself on this occasion, and nails it again by correctly answering B. She decides to trust him, and wins $250,000.
In 2020, the New York Post reported that some users of a popular erectile dysfunction drug were experiencing which of these strange side effects? "Ask the Host" lifeline used
Director Wes Craven has said that his childhood bully Fred Kruger inspired the name of the villain in what classic slasher film? "Ask the Host" lifeline used
In a historic 2020 splashdown, astronauts returned safely to Earth in a reusable SpaceX capsule named for what Peter, Paul & Mary song? "Ask the Host" lifeline used.
When "Rough and Rowdy Ways" debuted at #2 on the charts, who became the first singer to have a Top 40 album in every decade from the 1960s to the 2020s? "Ask the Guest" and "Ask the Host" lifelines used
Meaning "to make every possible effort," the term "pull out all the stops" comes from a technique used when playing what instrument? "Ask the Guest" and "Ask the Host" lifelines used
⬥ A: Violin
⬥ B: Guitar
⬥ C: Organ
⬥ D: Saxophone
Lauren initially thought the answer was B: Guitar, but she decided to ask her friend Amy for her advice, and she guessed D: Saxophone, but was not completely sure, and told her to use another lifeline, so Lauren then decided to ask Jimmy Kimmel, who answered C: Organ. Lauren decides to go with Jimmy's answer and wins $64,000.
Designer Christian Louboutin was reportedly inspired to create his shoes' signature red soles after watching his assistant do what? "Ask the Host" lifeline used
Which of the following statements is true about the names of four of the U.S.'s twenty most populous cities? "Ask the Guest" and "Ask the Host" lifelines used
On a Season Four episode of "Seinfeld," George explains that if he ever became an adult film star he would take what stage name? 'Ask the Host' lifeline used
⬥ A: Squeaky Springs
⬥ B: Butt Reynolds
⬥ C: Alan Thick
⬥ D: Buck Naked
Right-Wrong record as of this question: 14-3
Trivia[]
The late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live has a YouTube channel, which has over 16.4 million subscribes.
According to Kimmel in a press release for the show's revival, original host Regis Philbin appeared to him in a dream and asked him to host the show, promising him a line of neckties if he did. Kimmel met Regis on the first day of filming.
