Everyone has to start somewhere. For Jimmy Kimmel, that “somewhere” was hosting a Sunday night interview show featured on KUNV, the University of Nevada’s student-run radio station. Interestingly enough, while hosting at KUNV, Kimmel was still a junior in high school. Nonetheless, an interest in broadcasting, coupled with a flair for witticism would later propel him to not only host his own show, but become a widely celebrated name in entertainment.
Born James Christian Kimmel on Nov. 13, 1967 in Brooklyn, NY, he is the eldest of Joan and James’s three children. The Kimmel family resided in Brooklyn for several years before moving to Las Vegas when James was nine. There, he developed an affinity for radio talk shows. Upon graduating from high school, Kimmel briefly attended the University of Nevada, before spending two years at Arizona State University only to leave without a degree. He landed his first paying job in the industry, co-hosting the Seattle based talk show The Me and Him Show.
Following a brief stint in Seattle, Kimmel spent the next 10 years accumulating experience traveling to different cities, and welcoming new challenges. In 1997, he began his television career alongside close friend Ben Stein on the Comedy Central game show, Win Ben Stein’s Money. While working at Comedy Central, Kimmel also co-produced popular TV shows such as The Andy Milonakis Show and Crank Yankers.
Having firmly established himself at Comedy Central, it was no surprise when ABC presented Kimmel with a chance to host his very own late night talk show. Jimmy Kimmel Live! aired for the first time in 2003, and the response was nothing short of spectacular. One source even went as far as naming Kimmel the “biggest badass on TV.” The show’s success marked the culmination of a years of hard work, long nights in the studio, and the desire of one man who wasn’t afraid to allow his voice to be heard.
Joshua Shapiro is a third-year student majoring in English and education. He can be reached at JS762110@wcupa.edu.
Wed. Apr 24th, 2024
