ABC Puts An End To Drinks On Jimmy Kimmel's new show.

Webcenter News ^ | January 29, 2003 | Associated Press

[ConservativeMan55]

Last call at Jimmy Kimmel's new ABC talk show NEW YORK (AP) - It's last call at Jimmy Kimmel's new ABC talk show.

After a boisterous premiere during which actor George Clooney passed around a bottle of vodka and an audience member vomited, the bar that serves drinks to audience members has been shut down.

Kimmel's late-night talk show, to run regularly on weeknights, premiered early Monday two hours after the end of the Super Bowl and was seen by an average of 4.8 million viewers.

Besides Clooney pouring drinks, rapper Snoop Dogg tested censors by several times making an on-camera obscene gesture.

``We were not comfortable with the systems in place for serving wine and beer,'' ABC spokesman Kevin Brockman said.

Daniel Kellison, the show's executive producer, said, ``They just said `let's chill out on it and take it away for now,' and we said fine. We have bigger fish to fry.''

ABC is hoping to build a late-night franchise by replacing ``Politically Incorrect'' with a new show led by Kimmel, former co-host of ``The Man Show'' on Comedy Central. ABC had resisted letting the show operate a bar in the first place, but Kellison pointed out drinks are served at the Disney-owned California Angels' games.

Kimmel, speaking earlier this month, said he wanted to make going to the show a more pleasant experience than it normally is for audience members.

``You stand out there for three hours,'' he said. ``They poke you with cattle prods to get in, and then you're forced to laugh and applaud at certain times. I want to make it more of an evening out where people actually enjoy themselves from the beginning of the experience until the end.''

Drinks aren't served to audience members at Jay Leno's ``Tonight'' show and David Letterman's ``Late Show.'' On-air guests at ``Tonight'' are asked backstage if they want a drink; Letterman's people won't ask, but will get something if it's requested.

Last June, ``Tonight'' show guest Tom Green got progressively drunk on the air as a gimmick, an experiment thought to quickly spiral out of control.

For a new show seeking attention like Kimmel's, publicity about a raucous opening night and bar shutdown might not necessarily be a bad thing.

``It gives us some stature in terms of people thinking this is a different show and not a conventional talk show,'' Kellison said. ``Honestly, what we want to do is create a place where the young audience and young talent feel like this is a fun place to come.''

[ConservativeMan55]

The show is not shown in my area. For those who did see it, what did you all think?
Instead of Jimmy's new show, we get reruns of Frasier. Which aren't all that bad.
I think Jimmy was trying to make his new show like The Man Show with the drinks and all.

[matthew_the_brain]

Jimmy Kimmel is a no talent hack who always uses the gutter as his source of jokes. He will not last.......

[zarf]

The Man Show rocks.

[carton253]

He is funny on Fox's NFL pre-game show though.

[DoughtyOne]

Sounds like an excellent show to miss. Snoop Doggie, Clooney, an open bar, people throwing up, now that's entertainment! (NOT!!!)

[Gunslingr3]

If Jimmy can get the Man Show Boy on air I'll watch. TV doesn't have a funnier bit.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

I find Kimmell to be funny, but he won't work in this format.

[Rain-maker]

I would prefer Bonanza reruns to Kimmel the kibble. There's enough talk shows already, let's see something different.

[trebb]

RE #6 - My thoughts too...

[ewing]

The ABC suits had Jimmy Kimmel and John Stewart (the next Letterman) as their final 2 choices.

They messed up bad, Kimmel is like the back up mid market drive time wacky radio guy..

[ConservativeMan55]

I agree that Kimmel is funny but he won't work in this format because ABC won't let him go as far as he needs to, pushing the envelope, to win the timeslot.
If ABC did let him, he would win.

[TankerKC]

Jimmy Kimmel is a no talent hack who always uses the gutter as his source of jokes, which means he will last...

[Texas_Jarhead]

Snoop Dog gave Bill O'Reilly the finger and a few choice words.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I liked Jimmy as Ben Stein's sidekick on Win Ben Stein's Money, but choosing Clooney for the first show was a bad move....dissing our President and our party. Jimmy's joining Babs, Martin, Spike, and Susan Sarandon in the "has bin" trash bin at my house.

[bandleader]

These "PIGS"(I apologize to the porcine community)just try to outdo one another with their disgusting behavior!!Is there something amusing that I'm missing??Jack Benny didn't have to utter one word to make you laugh!!What has happened to us???I guess "The Barbarians"are no longer outside the gates,they are among us!!!!!

[Bella_Bru]

I like the Man Show too.

[TontoKowalski]

Man Show Rocks! It is major league politically incorrect. It definitely pushes the envelope as far a vulgarity goes, though. But no more than, say, South Park. It's become one of my favorite places to land during late-nite channel surfing.

ZIGGY-ZOGGY, ZIGGY-ZOGGY, HOY HOY HOY!

And now...Girls Jumping on Trampolines!

[Petronski]

Sounds like an excellent show to miss. Snoop Doggie, Clooney, an open bar, people throwing up, now that's entertainment!

BOYCOTT DISNEY: a vortex of seductive evil™

[BrooklynGOP]

The Man Show boy is the best.