The late-night host revealed ABC was close to hiring Jon Stewart before a last-minute decision put him in the spotlight instead.
Jimmy Kimmel is owning the odd twist of fate that landed him the ABC late-night gig — and he thinks the network got it wrong by not hiring Jon Stewart.
On the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast, Kimmel walked listeners through the moment ABC was reportedly “about to hire Jon Stewart” for their late-night slot. The two comedians even shared the same manager, James “Baby Doll” Dixon, which made the fallout especially awkward when ABC pivoted and tapped Kimmel instead.
Kimmel said ABC chairman Lloyd Braun watched his tape, took it to Bob Iger, and both decided Kimmel was the better pick.
“That was a mistake, by the way,” Kimmel told the podcast. “They definitely should’ve hire Jon. If I’m in that position, there’s no question I hire Jon 100 times out of a 100.” He admitted the situation was strange — particularly because Dixon had to tell Stewart he’d lost the opportunity — but added the industry is full of those uncomfortable moments.
Kimmel also recounted going straight to Iger to ask why the network chose him over Stewart. Iger’s blunt response? “Well, you were cheaper.” The remark got laughs, but Kimmel said it stuck with him — a reminder of the business realities behind TV decisions.
Kimmel’s late-night show debuted in January 2003, and he’s been a cable-to-network success story ever since. Stewart, meanwhile, became the face of The Daily Show after taking the reins in 1998 and remained a defining voice in political satire until he stepped back in 2015; he’s popped back into the spotlight in recent years.
Even as Kimmel expresses gratitude for the break that made him a household name, his comments underline a clear admiration for Stewart’s work. Fans and late-night observers have long debated what might have been had Stewart taken ABC’s slot — and Kimmel’s candid take adds fresh fuel to that conversation.
Got an opinion? Tell us: would Jon Stewart have changed late night as we know it — or was ABC’s gamble worth it? Share your thoughts.
