“˜Kimmel Live’ on ABC a bleeping good show

I’m a big fan of comedian Jimmy Kimmel. I’m an even
bigger fan of ESPN.com columnist Bill “The Sports Guy”
Simmons.

So when I heard that ABC bet a king’s ransom on Kimmel to
resuscitate late night programming, and Kimmel bet a case of beer
on Simmons to write for the show, I felt obligated to strap myself
on the roller coaster ride that is “Jimmy Kimmel Live”
knowing full well I would become nauseated afterward.

Kimmel, who evolved from lovely assistant on “Win Ben
Stein’s Money” to a co-star with Adam Corrola on
“The Man Show,” is not a comedic mastermind in the mold
of David Letterman or Jerry Seinfeld. What he brings to the table
is a self-effacing, hanging-out-with-the-guys brand of humor.
Unfortunately, guy talk will probably not translate well into a
network obsessed with its own clean-cut image. Most likely, the
show will have its hilarious moments, but Kimmel’s comedic
prowess will be severely restricted.

Here’s my rundown of Monday’s episode in log
format.

12 a.m.: The wait between the end of “Nightline” and
the start of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” seems like an
eternity. A live show, as many West Coast viewers know, is a tricky
concept for late night because the show may be taped in the El
Capitan Theater in Hollywood at 9 p.m. PST, but only East Coast
audiences catch the live version. We watch the tape-delay version
three hours later. That’s false advertising in my book.

12:05: The self-effacing humor rears its ugly head as a shabbily
dressed Kimmel (cheap-looking brown suit and no tie) is caught with
his fly down as he enters the studio. Nice touch. Kimmel is clearly
establishing himself as an antithesis to the buttoned-down,
smooth-talking Letterman.

12:06: Kimmel rants about the network’s prohibition of
alcohol, prompting him to declare, “The honeymoon with ABC is
over.” The borderline R-rated atmosphere of the show and the
network’s Disney reputation will always conflict and provide
comedic fodder.

12:08: Snoop Dogg is unleashed. As the sidekick of the week,
Snoop is essentially ABC’s hired gun to help Kimmel get some
early laughs. So far so good.

12:16: A Subway commercial with Jared. Urge to kill rising.

12:29: The Rock chuckles uncomfortably throughout his interview
like a girl with a lame prom date, and is visibly shaken when
snowdogs randomly mush across the set.

12:31: As Snoop stares longingly into space with a glazed look
on his face, Kimmel deadpans, “You look like you’re
back on the drugs.” Walt Disney just turned over in his
grave. Snoop is indeed the comedy gift that keeps on giving.

12:34: A promo of ABC’s “Celebrity Mole.” The
iceberg to Kimmel’s Titanic.

12:35: Football announcer and company man Al Michaels walks the
plank right onto the show. Here’s an example of a guest
who’s too sophisticated and uptight for Kimmel’s guy
talk schtick.

12:43: A Miller Lite commercial about great taste and less
filling. I think you know which one I’m talking about.

12:56: Gangsta rapper 50 Cent’s performance is met with
censor bleeps so loud and long that my roommate and I dubbed them
“Disney Bleeps.” ABC must have custom-ordered a giant
bleep machine just for this show.

It’s unclear how long of a leash ABC has on Kimmel. The
show resides in the time slot that once housed the annoying
“Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher.” If
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” fails to make a dent in the
ratings, don’t be surprised if ABC bleeps the show
altogether.

David’s favorite shows after midnight are “The Late
Show with Conan O’Brien,” “Sportscenter”
and reruns of “Saved By the Bell.” E-mail him at
dchang@media.ucla.edu.

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