History of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Timeline
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (JKL) is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, airing on ABC since January 26, 2003. Originally a post-Super Bowl program, it initially aired around midnight before moving to the 11:35 p.m. ET/PT slot in 2013. The show is taped at the Hollywood Masonic Temple in Los Angeles. Although titled "Live!", the show ceased regular live broadcasts after an incident in 2004 where censors failed to bleep actor Thomas Jane's profanity.
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May 2002: Kimmel in Host Negotiations
In May 2002, Jimmy Kimmel was in negotiations to host a talk show on ABC following the cancellation of Politically Incorrect.
January 26, 2003: Jimmy Kimmel Live! Debut
On January 26, 2003, Jimmy Kimmel Live! premiered on ABC as part of the lead-out programming for Super Bowl XXXVII.
2003: Evolution of the show's intro
For the show's 20th anniversary episode, it shows an evolution of the show's intro, which starts from the 2003 version all the way to the 2021 version, ending with the show's current logo.
2003: Debut of basketball-themed broadcasts
From the show's debut in 2003 until 2022, about four to seven half-hour basketball-themed broadcasts under the title Jimmy Kimmel Game Night aired as lead-in programming to ABC's coverage of the NBA Finals.
2003: Andy Milonakis Becomes Announcer
In late 2003, comedian Andy Milonakis took over as the announcer for Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
April 23, 2004: Show Ceases Regular Live Broadcasts
On April 23, 2004, Jimmy Kimmel Live! stopped airing live regularly after censors were unable to properly censor a barrage of swearing from actor Thomas Jane.
2004: Coors Light sponsors musical performances
From 2004 to 2006, Coors Light sponsored most of the show's musical performances.
2004: Dicky Barrett Becomes Announcer
In 2004, Dicky Barrett, singer for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones & The Defiant, took over as the announcer for Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
2004: Ratings Increase
In 2004, Jimmy Kimmel Live! moved up in the ratings, becoming a strong competitor and capturing about half the audience of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
2004: Switch to Taped Broadcasts
In 2004, Jimmy Kimmel Live! switched to taped broadcasts due to an incident where actor Thomas Jane used profanity that couldn't be easily censored.
January 2005: Set redesign
In January 2005, the show's original set was replaced with the current set, which has a city in the background. The band now performs on the right side of the stage. The show was originally taped at the TV studio in the Hollywood Masonic Temple, now known as the El Capitan Entertainment Centre.
June 2005: Show partners with Pontiac for concerts on "Pontiac Garage" outdoor stage
In June 2005, Jimmy Kimmel Live! partnered with Pontiac for its concerts, which were held on the "Pontiac Garage" outdoor stage in Hollywood.
September 12, 2006: Matt Damon Appears, Show Runs Out of Time
On September 12, 2006, Matt Damon finally appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, but Kimmel claimed the show was out of time after a lengthy introduction, leading to Damon's mock anger.
September 16, 2006: Lionel Richie's outdoor stage performance
During Lionel Richie's outdoor stage performances on September 16, 2006, the 3D image of Los Angeles and Hollywood was first used.
December 17, 2006: Kimmel Acknowledges Damon Incident as a Joke
In the December 17, 2006, issue of USA Weekend, Kimmel acknowledged that the Matt Damon incident was a joke.
2006: Coors Light sponsors musical performances
From 2004 to 2006, Coors Light sponsored most of the show's musical performances.
February 2007: Set change for After the Academy Awards show
In February 2007, for the After the Academy Awards show, the set was tweaked, replacing the illustrated picture of a city with a 3D collage of Los Angeles and Hollywood.
February 25, 2007: Set tweaked with 3D collage of Los Angeles and Hollywood
On February 25, 2007, the second "After the Academy Awards" show, the set was slightly tweaked. An illustrated picture of a city in the background was replaced with a 3D collage of Los Angeles and Hollywood. This was the second set change after the one in January 2005.
June 5, 2007: Guillermo Attempts to Interview Damon
On the show which aired on June 5, 2007, Kimmel sent his sidekick Guillermo to the Ocean's Thirteen premiere to interview Damon, though when he started the interview, he said that they were out of time.
August 2, 2007: Guillermo Plays Jason Bourne
In the August 2, 2007, episode, Kimmel announced that Guillermo was taking on the role of Jason Bourne, who was played by Damon, for The Bourne Ultimatum.
January 31, 2008: Sarah Silverman's music video about Matt Damon
On January 31, 2008, Sarah Silverman appeared on the show and announced via a music video that she had been "fucking Matt Damon." Damon added to the gag by telling Kimmel at the end of the video, "Jimmy, we're out of time. Sorry."
2008: Creative Arts Emmy Award win for Sarah Silverman's segment
In 2008, the Sarah Silverman segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where she announced she was "fucking Matt Damon," won a Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.
January 21, 2009: Death of Veatrice Rice
On January 21, 2009, Veatrice Rice, a parking lot security guard who had segments on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, died from cancer.
April 14, 2009: High Definition Broadcast
On April 14, 2009, Jimmy Kimmel Live! began broadcasting in 720p high definition.
October 2009: Bud Light replaces Pontiac as concert series sponsor
Beginning in October 2009, Anheuser-Busch's Bud Light replaced Pontiac as the sponsor for the show's musical performances.
December 2009: Uncle Frank Potenza Illness
From December 2009, Uncle Frank Potenza did not appear regularly due to illness.
2009: Friday Episode Rebroadcasts Begin
From 2009, new episodes aired five nights a week, while from 2009 to 2012, the Friday episode was a rebroadcast of a recent episode.
2009: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Perform Live
In 2009, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones performed live on Jimmy Kimmel Live! after becoming active again.
January 12, 2010: Kimmel parodies Jay Leno during "Tonight Show" conflict
On January 12, 2010, during the "Tonight Show" conflict, Jimmy Kimmel performed his entire show in character as Jay Leno, wearing a gray wig and fake chin. His bandleader Cleto Escobedo parodied Leno's bandleader Kevin Eubanks. Kimmel referenced Conan O'Brien's "People of Earth" letter, parodying Leno's perspective on the situation.
January 26, 2010: Uncle Frank's Seventh Anniversary Show Appearance
On January 26, 2010, Uncle Frank Potenza appeared on the seventh anniversary show of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
March 2010: Uncle Frank Potenza Illness
Through March 2010, Uncle Frank Potenza did not appear regularly due to illness.
2010: "The Handsome Men's Club" Clip
In Kimmel's 2010 post-Oscar show, he featured a clip called "The Handsome Men's Club," which ended with Damon telling Kimmel, "We're all out of time," then bursting into evil laughter.
August 23, 2011: Death of Uncle Frank Potenza
On August 23, 2011, Francis "Uncle Frank" Potenza, Jimmy Kimmel's uncle, died at the age of 77.
October 27, 2011: New opening sequence introduced with Kimmel zip-lining
On October 27, 2011, the show introduced a new opening sequence that shows Jimmy Kimmel zip-lining through Hollywood until he arrives at the theater.
2011: Evolution of the show's intro
For the show's 20th anniversary episode, it shows an evolution of the show's intro, which starts from the 2003 version all the way to the 2021 version, ending with the show's current logo. The screen ratio transitioned from 4:3 to 16:9 when it gets to the 2011 version.
2011: Halloween Candy Prank Started
In 2011, Jimmy Kimmel Live! started the annual Halloween candy prank, where viewers videotape their kids' reactions after being told their candy was eaten.
March 2012: "Mean Tweets" Segment Featured
In March 2012, Jimmy Kimmel Live! introduced the "Mean Tweets" segment for Twitter's sixth anniversary, featuring celebrities reading aloud mean tweets directed at them.
2012: Friday Episode Rebroadcasts End
From 2009 to 2012, the Friday episode was a rebroadcast of a recent episode. Starting with the January 2013 move, the Friday episode was retitled Jimmy Kimmel Live! This Week, showing highlights from the entire week of shows.
2012: Kimmel discusses Leno's attempts to move to ABC
In 2012, Kimmel discussed during an interview that Jay Leno had attempted to move to ABC some years prior, which would have displaced Kimmel. Kimmel felt Leno's friendship was artificial.
2012: Matt Damon in Oscars Parody
In 2012, Matt Damon appeared in Kimmel's Oscars parody, a mock trailer for a non-existent blockbuster called Movie: The Movie, continuing the running joke between them.
January 8, 2013: Time Slot Change
On January 8, 2013, Jimmy Kimmel Live! moved to the 11:35 p.m. ET/PT time slot, after having aired at either midnight or 12:05 a.m. ET/PT for its first ten years.
January 2013: Sony takes over sponsorship of concert series
In January 2013, Sony took over sponsorship of the Jimmy Kimmel Live Concert Series segment.
January 2013: Friday Episode Retitled
Starting in January 2013, the Friday episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! was retitled Jimmy Kimmel Live! This Week, showcasing highlights from the week.
January 24, 2013: Matt Damon takes over hosting duties for 10th anniversary
On January 24, 2013, for the 10th anniversary episode, Matt Damon took over hosting duties, renaming the show "Jimmy Kimmel Sucks!". Damon tied Kimmel to a chair and gagged him, replaced Guillermo with Andy Garcia, and Cleto with Sheryl Crow, and brought in Robin Williams for the monologue.
August 2013: Guillermo Crashes Damon's Interview
In August 2013, Guillermo crashed Matt Damon's interview, promoting his own movie with posters that mocked Damon, continuing the comedic feud.
February 2014: Leno's Retirement
Following Jay Leno's retirement in February 2014, Kimmel became the third-longest serving current host in late-night television.
February 2014: Matt Damon appearance with "The Monuments Men" cast
In February 2014, Matt Damon appeared with the cast of "The Monuments Men," but sat in a different seat. During the show, a fake fire was activated when Jimmy Kimmel asked Damon a question.
September 20, 2014: Show Aired on Citytv
On September 20, 2014, Jimmy Kimmel Live! aired on Citytv and was tape delayed to maintain its hour-long late night newscasts.
September 22, 2014: Show Aired on CTV Comedy Channel
On September 22, 2014, Jimmy Kimmel Live! began airing on CTV Comedy Channel in simulcast with ABC.
2014: AT&T takes over sponsorship of concert series
In 2014, AT&T took over sponsorship of the Jimmy Kimmel Live Concert Series segment.
January 2015: Program Tape-Delayed on CTV Comedy Channel
In January 2015, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was tape-delayed to midnight in favor of The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore on CTV Comedy Channel.
January 2015: New opening sequence created by Industrial Light & Magic
In January 2015, the show premiered a new opening, created by Industrial Light & Magic, showing Kimmel turning on the lights of Los Angeles from the Hollywood sign. The background changes to several locations in Los Angeles before transforming into the theater.
February 2015: Interview with Viola Davis using telepresence technology
In February 2015, after the first-season finale of "How to Get Away with Murder", Viola Davis was interviewed through Cisco's Jabber Guest due to weather issues preventing her from flying to Los Angeles. The interview was branded under Cisco Systems's telepresence technology and took place on the new "Wall of America" screen.
March 2015: President Obama Participated in "Mean Tweets"
In March 2015, Jimmy Kimmel Live! aired a "President Obama edition" of "Mean Tweets," where Barack Obama read tweets mocking him.
May 2015: Letterman's Retirement
Following David Letterman's retirement in May 2015, Kimmel became the third-longest serving current host in late-night television.
August 2015: Stewart's Retirement
Following Jon Stewart's retirement in August 2015, Kimmel became the third-longest serving current host in late-night television.
September 22, 2015: Program Airing Resumed on The Comedy Channel in Australia
On September 22, 2015, The Comedy Channel in Australia resumed airing Jimmy Kimmel Live!
September 23, 2015: Show Premiered in India
On September 23, 2015, Jimmy Kimmel Live! premiered in India with its 14th season, airing on STAR World India 12 hours after the U.S. broadcast.
2015: Samsung replaces AT&T as concert series sponsor
In 2015, Samsung replaced AT&T as the sponsor for the Jimmy Kimmel Live Concert Series segment.
2016: Matt Damon's surprise appearance in Ben Affleck's coat
During Kimmel's 2016 post-Oscar special, Matt Damon made a surprise appearance by emerging from a large coat worn by Ben Affleck. He was then jokingly removed from the studio by Kimmel. Later in 2016, Damon appeared in a sketch reprising his role as astronaut Mark Watney from the movie "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice".
2016: Cîroc replaces Samsung as concert series sponsor
In 2016, Cîroc replaced Samsung as the sponsor for the Jimmy Kimmel Live Concert Series segment.
2016: Opening sequence modified to remove Kimmel's presence
In 2016, after Kimmel grew out his beard, the show's opening sequence was modified slightly to remove Kimmel's presence.
February 26, 2017: Kimmel renews his feud with Damon at the Academy Awards
On February 26, 2017, while hosting the 89th Academy Awards, Jimmy Kimmel revived his ongoing feud with Matt Damon. This included harshly criticizing Damon's film "We Bought a Zoo" in a skit, introducing him only as Ben Affleck's guest, and having the orchestra play him off while he was speaking.
August 2017: Show Ended Airing on The Comedy Network
In August 2017, Jimmy Kimmel Live! aired on The Comedy Network until the end of August.
2017: Mercedes-Benz becomes concert series sponsor
In 2017, Mercedes-Benz became the sponsor for the Jimmy Kimmel Live Concert Series segment.
August 2018: Show Ended Airing on CMT Canada
In August 2018, Jimmy Kimmel Live! aired on CMT Canada until August and has not aired on a Canadian channel since.
October 3, 2018: Misuse of Emergency Alert System Tone
On October 3, 2018, Jimmy Kimmel Live! misused the Emergency Alert System (EAS) tone, leading to a fine by the FCC in 2019.
May 2019: Kimmel's Contract Extension
In May 2019, Jimmy Kimmel and ABC agreed to extend his contract to host Jimmy Kimmel Live! until 2022, marking the show's twentieth season.
August 15, 2019: FCC Fine for Misusing EAS Tone
On August 15, 2019, ABC and Jimmy Kimmel Live! were fined $395,000 by the FCC for misusing the Emergency Alert System (EAS) tone on the October 3, 2018, episode.
2019: Consistent Air Time Across Network
In 2019, Hearst Television's newest affiliation agreement forced ABC affiliates to air Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35 p.m. ET/10:35 p.m. CT across the network.
March 16, 2020: Production Suspension Due to COVID-19
On March 16, 2020, Jimmy Kimmel Live! suspended production due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2020: Matt Damon emerges during COVID-19 pandemic show
In June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic when Kimmel was hosting the show from his house, Matt Damon emerged from one of Kimmel's bedrooms, claiming to have been there for the entire pandemic. He demanded to be on the show, but Kimmel refused when he wanted to take a break. The skit involved a joke about Kimmel's wife cheating on him with Damon again.
June 18, 2020: Kimmel Announces Hiatus
On June 18, 2020, Jimmy Kimmel announced he was taking a hiatus from Jimmy Kimmel Live!, with guest hosts filling in until his return.
August 2020: Show Filmed from Home
From March to August 2020, during the time the show is filmed from his home, Kimmel's kids created a unique opening sequence.
September 2020: Dicky Barrett uses a lighter tone
From September 2020 to May 2021, Dicky Barrett would say "And now, Jimmy Kimmel." to give a lighter tone to what he normally say.
September 2020: Picture of classic 1962 ABC ID used
Starting in late September 2020, upon Kimmel's return to the studio, a picture of the classic 1962 ABC ID, fully recreated to fit the widescreen format, was used.
September 21, 2020: Show Resumes Taping Without Audience
On September 21, 2020, Jimmy Kimmel returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which resumed taping from the Hollywood Masonic Temple without a studio audience and in a 60-minute format.
October 30, 2020: Animated version of 1962 ABC ID used
On the October 30, 2020 episode, an animated version of the classic 1962 ABC ID, fully recreated to fit the widescreen format, was used.
January 2021: Return to At-Home Format
In January 2021, Jimmy Kimmel Live! briefly returned to its at-home format due to a local increase in COVID-19 cases, following guidance from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.
May 2021: Dicky Barret stopped using a lighter tone
From September 2020 to May 2021, Dicky Barrett would say "And now, Jimmy Kimmel." to give a lighter tone to what he normally say.
May 2021: Simplified intro shows show's logo from multiple angles
Starting from May 2021, upon the audience returning, the simplified intro now shows the show's logo from multiple angles.
2021: Evolution of the show's intro
For the show's 20th anniversary episode, it shows an evolution of the show's intro, which starts from the 2003 version all the way to the 2021 version, ending with the show's current logo.
2021: O'Brien's Show Ends
In 2021, Conan O'Brien's show ended, making Kimmel the second-longest-tenured host in late-night television.
April 1, 2022: Justin Timberlake's April Fools' Day appearance as Matt Damon
On April 1, 2022, for April Fools' Day, Jimmy Fallon hosted the show in place of Kimmel. Fallon announced Matt Damon as a guest, but instead, Justin Timberlake appeared dressed in Boston Red Sox apparel, carrying a Dunkin' Donuts coffee cup, and loosely impersonating Matt Damon. Timberlake spray-painted "I <3 Matt Damon" on Kimmel's desk.
June 6, 2022: Ranked No. 1 Late-Night Talk Show
During the week of June 6, 2022, Jimmy Kimmel Live! ranked as the No. 1 late-night talk show for the two weeks in a row among adults 18-49.
July 7, 2022: Generation Gap Game Show Premiered
On July 7, 2022, the "Generation Gap" game show, spun off from a Jimmy Kimmel Live! segment, premiered, hosted by Kelly Ripa.
September 26, 2022: Ranked No. 1 Late-Night Talk Show
During the week of September 26, 2022, Jimmy Kimmel Live! ranked as the No. 1 late-night talk show among adults 18-49 when broadcasting from Brooklyn, New York.
December 2022: Picture of classic 1962 ABC ID removed
In December 2022, the picture of the classic 1962 ABC ID was removed.
2022: Last year of Jimmy Kimmel Game Night broadcasts
From the show's debut in 2003 until 2022, about four to seven half-hour basketball-themed broadcasts under the title Jimmy Kimmel Game Night aired as lead-in programming to ABC's coverage of the NBA Finals.
2022: Lou Wilson becomes new announcer
In 2022, Lou Wilson becomes the new announcer for the show.
2022: Contract End Target
Kimmel's contract was expected to go until 2022.
January 22, 2023: Audience Measurement
As of the average weekly audience measurement for the period ending January 22, 2023, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was watched by a total number of 1,746,000 people per episode, surpassing The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
September 2023: The show's logo shows the sign being turned on
Starting from September 2023, the intro now shows the sign being turned on after the "Previously on Jimmy Kimmel Live!" segment.
September 2023: "Previously on Jimmy Kimmel Live!" segment introduced
Starting in September 2023, the program starts with a "Previously on Jimmy Kimmel Live!" segment before the title sequence.
2023: Jimmy Kimmel Game Night broadcasts discontinued
In 2023, Jimmy Kimmel Game Night broadcasts were discontinued after the NBA moved up its weeknight start times and a writers' strike impacted production.
February 2024: "Previously on Jimmy Kimmel Live!" segment dropped
The "Previously on Jimmy Kimmel Live!" segment was dropped in late February 2024.
February 21, 2024: Kimmel Hints at Contract End
On February 21, 2024, Jimmy Kimmel hinted he may not renew his contract after it expires in 2026 during an interview.
June 3, 2024: YouTube Channel Views
As of June 3, 2024, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! YouTube channel showed a cumulative of 13,676,433,211 views.
January 8, 2025: Production Suspension Due to Wildfires
On January 8, 2025, Jimmy Kimmel Live! suspended production due to wildfires in Southern California.
January 2025: New Intro Debuted
In January 2025, Jimmy Kimmel Live! debuted a new intro featuring drone footage of Hollywood landmarks and Cleto and the Cletones performing on set.
2026: Possible Contract Expiration
In 2026, Jimmy Kimmel's contract is set to potentially expire.
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