BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- At the start of the executive session for ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson, the first question came from a reporter none of us recognized when the mystery man stated his name and affiliation. He started asking questions about rumors that ABC might make a bid for Jay Leno after he's transitioned out of NBC's "The Tonight Show."
"If that were to happen, would Ted Koppel get fired or how would that work?" the "reporter" asked, oblivious to the fact that Koppel has been off "Nightline" for several years (it wouldn't be the first time for such a blunder). "If you were to talk to Jay Leno now, wouldn't that be contract tampering, wouldn't it be illegal?"
"How do you keep your hair so nice?"
Of course, it wasn't a reporter, it was Jimmy Kimmel, host of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," who stands to lose if ABC hires Leno. The fact that ABC got him in to make fun of the situation makes it clear that ABC believes in Kimmel and will find a way to keep him happy even if the network pursues Leno.
"I cant say enough about Jimmy," McPherson said. "His show has just exploded this year. He's done an amazing job. ... The show is firing on all cylinders. As for Leno, I can't believe they're gonna let this guy go at the top of his game. If that happens, I guess we'll look at it at that time and Jimmy will be involved in those discussions and that will be that."
"Are you at all afraid that if you do replace Jimmy Kimmel he might do something crazy to you or your car?" Kimmel said before quickly departing, no doubt to avoid reporters' questions about his breakup with now-ex-girlfriend Sarah Silverman.
Posted
Jul 16 2008, 12:35 PM
by
Rob Owen