Jimmy Kimmel's Shocking Past: Jon Stewart Almost Hosted, He Almost Quit

Grab your popcorn, because Jimmy Kimmel recently spilled some major beans on Ted Danson's podcast, revealing just how close he came to not hosting his iconic late-night show and the incredibly rough ride that followed its debut.

TL;DR: The Latest Scoop on Jimmy Kimmel's Wild Ride

• ABC was originally set to sign Jon Stewart for the late-night slot that eventually became Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
• Kimmel admitted he struggled so much in the early days that he wished his show would be canceled, often scrambling for guests.
• Despite a recent controversial suspension and a mixed viewership comeback, Kimmel's show has a fascinating, tumultuous history.

The Unexpected Turn That Landed Jimmy Kimmel in Late Night

Imagine a world where Jon Stewart hosted ABC's late-night show instead of Jimmy Kimmel. It almost happened! Jimmy Kimmel himself dropped this bombshell on Ted Danson's podcast, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name." Back in the early 2000s, ABC was scouting for a new late-night host to replace Bill Maher's "Politically Incorrect," which wrapped up in 2002.

Stewart, already a seasoned pro thanks to his stint on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" (which he’d hosted since 1999), seemed like the obvious choice. In fact, Kimmel shared the same manager, James 'Baby Doll' Dixon, who was reportedly "about to close this deal for Jon to host the show" with ABC.

But then, fate, or perhaps a budget-conscious executive, intervened. ABC chairman Lloyd Braun decided to watch Kimmel's audition tape. He apparently liked what he saw and brought it to then-Disney CEO Bob Iger, who agreed that Kimmel "might be the guy." Talk about a last-minute switcheroo!

"I said, 'What was it, like why — this is quite a leap that you guys made. I was on The Man Show, I was doing football picks on Fox NFL Sunday — what was it?' He goes, 'Well, you were cheaper.' And everybody laughed, but I knew he wasn't kidding."

— Jimmy Kimmel, recalling a conversation with Bob Iger

From "The Man Show" to a "Mistake": Kimmel's Own Doubts

At the time, Kimmel was known for his edgier Comedy Central sketch show, "The Man Show," and even doing football picks on "Fox NFL Sunday." He was, by his own admission, a far cry from the traditional late-night host ABC was supposedly looking for. Kimmel was so surprised by the network's decision that he confessed asking Bob Iger for a real explanation.

Iger's candid, albeit jokingly delivered, response? "Well, you were cheaper." Kimmel firmly believes there was truth to that quip.

Interestingly, Kimmel still maintains that ABC made the wrong call. "That was a mistake, by the way. They definitely should hire Jon. If I'm in that position, there's no question I hire John 100 times out of 100," he told Danson, humbly asserting that Stewart was, and still is, the superior choice for the job.

The Tumultuous Beginning: "I Would Pray That They Canceled the Show Sometimes"

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" officially premiered on January 26, 2003, and while it's now a late-night staple, its early days were anything but smooth sailing. Kimmel openly admitted that watching footage from his first year is his "vision of hell" because he felt completely lost.

"I didn't know what I was doing, and I would pray that they canceled the show sometimes," Kimmel revealed on the podcast. He described feeling overwhelmed to the point where he "couldn't do it anymore," yet he couldn't quit because he didn't want to let down his staff.

Scrambling for Guests: Friends to the Rescue

One of the biggest hurdles in those early days was finding celebrity guests. Imagine a late-night show with no one to interview! Kimmel recalled times when it was 5:30 in the afternoon, and they still didn't have guests lined up for that night's live show, which aired at 11:35 PM ET (12:05 AM in its original slot, according to some reports).

His solution? Hitting up his friends. "I would have to just pick up the phone and call my friends," he said. He credited a generous group of pals and his then-girlfriend for helping him fill the empty chairs:

• Sarah Silverman (then-girlfriend, asked to appear "a lot")
• Adam Carolla
• David Alan Grier
• Anthony Anderson
• Kathy Griffin

"God bless them, because I needed them," he acknowledged, grateful for their willingness to appear at a moment's notice.

Finding Footing and Navigating Controversy

Thankfully, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" eventually found its rhythm. Kimmel noted that the show "stabilized" as they "figured out how to do it" and started incorporating "running bits" that helped keep things afloat. Despite some "tumultuous" moments and causing "trouble once every, like two and a half months" with things that came out of his mouth, the show managed to pull in "good enough ratings" to stay on air and has since aired over 3,500 episodes.

A Recent Suspension and a Rocky Comeback

Kimmel's candor on Danson's podcast comes after a recent whirlwind of controversy for the host. In September, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was temporarily suspended by ABC following comments Kimmel made on air regarding the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel had suggested that "the MAGA gang" was trying to politicize the incident.

The network halted production "to avoid further inflaming a tense situation" and had "thoughtful conversations with Jimmy" before reinstating the show within a week. Upon his return, Kimmel clarified his intentions, stating, "it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man" and that he did not intend "to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual."

The show's return on September 23 saw a massive viewership spike, hitting 6.3 million viewers, making it the second most-watched broadcast in the show's history. However, this momentum wasn't sustained. By October, viewership reportedly dropped to 1.9 million (a 71% decline), and in the coveted 25-54 demographic, it plummeted from 1.7 million to just 265,000. For comparison, Fox News's "Gutfeld!" starring Greg Gutfeld, pulled in 2.8 million viewers and 370,000 in the same demographic during that period.

Despite the recent ups and downs, Jimmy Kimmel's journey from an almost-canceled show that Jon Stewart almost hosted, to a consistent late-night presence, is a testament to perseverance and, perhaps, a touch of luck (and being "cheaper").

Frequently Asked Questions About Jimmy Kimmel Live!

When did "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" first premiere?

Jimmy Kimmel Live! debuted on ABC on January 26, 2003.

Who was almost hired to host Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show instead of him?

Jon Stewart, then-host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, was reportedly very close to securing the late-night hosting gig at ABC before Jimmy Kimmel was chosen.

Where and when can I watch "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"?

You can catch new episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live! weeknights at 11:35 PM ET / 8:35 PM PT on ABC.

Why was "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" temporarily suspended recently?

The show was temporarily suspended in September following comments Jimmy Kimmel made on air about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which ABC felt were "ill-timed and thus insensitive."

Sources

• ScreenRant
• Variety
• The Independent
• RadarOnline.com
• The Blast
• Female First