Jimmy Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel has established a distinctive presence in late-night television, evolving from radio personality and game show co-host to an influential talk show host. After winning an Emmy for Best Game Show Host in 1999 for his work on Comedy Central’s ‘Win Ben Stein’s Money,’ Jimmy Kimmel built a prominent career across television and radio. His radio career began with a Sunday night interview show on UNLV’s college station, KUNV, and in 1989, he secured his first paid position as morning drive co-host of ‘The Me and Him Show’ at KZOK-FM in Seattle, followed by five years as ‘Jimmy The Sports Guy’ at KROQ-FM in Los Angeles. Transitioning to television, he initially wrote for Fox before co-hosting ‘Win Ben Stein’s Money’ from 1997 to 2000.

In 1999, Kimmel also co-hosted and co-produced ‘The Man Show’ with Adam Carolla, a program achieving significant success on Comedy Central until 2003. This collaboration led to the formation of Jackhole Productions, which created ‘Crank Yankers’ for Comedy Central (2002–2007; 2019-2022) and ‘The Andy Milonakis Show’ for MTV2. Kimmel further co-wrote and produced the feature film ‘Windy City Heat.’ In January 2003, Kimmel launched ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on ABC, where he serves as host and executive producer. The show quickly established itself as an edgy alternative in late-night, known for segments like ‘Celebrities Read Mean Tweets,’ and moved to an earlier time slot in 2013, competing with other major late-night programs.

In 2025, Kimmel received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Game Show, underscoring his impact in the genre. Also in September 2025, ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ experienced a brief suspension by ABC following controversial comments, an event that sparked national discussion on free speech.