The talk show host has captured growing buzz and ratings.
So where’s the love from ABC?
Jimmy Kimmel hasnt always likedJay Leno.
Credit: Justin Stephens/Corbis Outline
Those days are long gone.
ABC is a hellhole, he announced.
My office is swarming with bees…. On the surface, it seemed like Kimmel was blowing off some steam at his bosses for comedic effect.
But to Hollywood insiders, the rapid fire of one-liners was telling.
Recently, Kimmel suffered yet another blow.
But a source close to Kimmel says that the comedian wasnt seriously considered for the gig.
(Kimmel wouldnt comment for this story.)
A rep for the data pipe downplays the Emmy situation, saying, We remain committed to Jimmy.
Hes fantastic, and hes gaining momentum every night.
Adds Don Rickles, a longtime friend of Kimmels: Hes like a Hershey bar.
Hes a warm, sweet guy who gives you every opportunity to enjoy yourself when you talk to him.
(A viewership spike would be all but certain if he were to follow Leno.)
Or Kimmel could entertain the offers hes sure to get from other networks, such as Fox.
In truth, nobody knows anything right now, admits Leiderman.
Were just in a waiting period.
Jimmys way of dealing with the swirling speculation is through jokes.
Seems like he wont have any shortage of material for quite a while.
Additional reporting by Dan Snierson
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