Even by Jimmy Kimmel’s standards, it’s been quite the crazy ride for ABC’s late-night host since he was last on stage in New York for Disney’s upfront presentation.
“Have to admit, I’ve been through so much bullshit this year, it actually made me appreciate this bullshit,” the Upfronts vet told Disney brass, stars and assembled ad buyers
Which is why the self-described “bad boy of data and measurement solutions” added today “I cost our company a lot of money this year, billions.”
Introduced by Ryan Seacrest, Kimmel hit the stage to big applause, and unsheathed his satire swords fast, furious and funny. “It is very possible that no employee in the history of any company has cost their employer more, “he said “Hiring me 24 years ago, just from a purely mathematical standpoint, was the worst personnel decision that Disney Corporation has ever made. Not even the captain of the Exxon Valdez did more damage.
said Kimmel before a suit and booted Javits Center crowd Tuesday. With a bit of a wink and a nod and 2027, the performance was billed by Disney as “a GRAMMYs® Moment Courtesy of Jimmy Kimmel.”
Pummeling and being pummeled by Donald Trump and the MAGAheads, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! frontman was been yanked off the air last fall for remarks he made about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Constantly called out as low-rated and no talent by the former Apprentice host, more recently Kimmel found himself at the receiving end of a rare rebuke by Melania Trump over an “expectant widow” remark he made days before the shocking shootings that closed down the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Amplified by POTUS, the First Lady’s distracting take on Kimmel now finds ABC in a sped-up licensing renewal review of its stations by the FCC – which Brendan Carr and others insist has nothing to do with displeasing their Oval Office master.
Speaking of Trump, there was no direct mention of the historically low polling POTUS at the Disney upfront before Kimmel arrived for his traditional and decades long roasting of the political, the corporate, the media and everything else — including his bosses.
Kicking off about an hour earlier with a Madonna soundtracked video of House of Mouse biggest stars, an awkward elevator scene and a “how you all doing tonight?” from literal Disney princess and Devil Wears Prada franchise’s Anne Hathaway, the 2026 upfront saw new-ish CEO Josh D’Amaro take the stage to assert both change and continuity. Of course, the die-hard sports fan and former Parks boss’ pokes at the NBA’s Knicks just blocks from Madison Square Garden threw down another type of marker, especially when Medfield, Massachusetts-born D’Amaro admitted he’s a Celtics fan.
After that, with a glitchy mic, an Avenger or two, and some Gordon Lightfoot, it was one loving testimony on video and on-stage after another from Disney star or creation. Plus there was a whole lot of “superpower” Super Bowl LXI, more sports. The Simpsons, and some Bluey, pitching the company in the brave new digital world that isn’t that new and is about to become much more digital with AI.
Poking another bear with a “not that we’re competitive” quip, GMA’s Robin Roberts used part of her stint on stage for the shindig to mock the new viewership declines of ABC’s network rivals and perceived lack of editorial independence. In a breaking news moment of sorts, Roberts also officially revealed the non-secret that Conan O’Brien would be back to host ABC’s second-to-last airing of the Oscars before it moves to YouTube in 2029.
MORE
English (US) ·