Jimmy Kimmel Talks Oscars, African Americans, Mo’nique’s “Horrific” Open Marriage

This morning, former KROQ’er and current late night sensation Jimmy Kimmel joined Kevin & Bean on the phone to talk about his upcoming Academy Awards special, his charitable participation in K&B’s April Foolishness, Tracy Morgan, Mo’nique, Sting, his work to integrate himself into the African American community and more.

Click “More” to read highlights from the interview.

Bean: Hey James. How are you man? I wanted to start with mentioning the April Foolishness [comedy show] because Jimmy was one of the guys who was there first for us last year and really got the ball rolling at making that such a spectacular event and we ended up raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. It was great, and Jimmy, I’m so grateful to you that you’ve agreed to come back and be with us on April 3rd.  I think it’s gonna be a lot of fun that nigh too.

Jimmy Kimmel: Ooooh, it’s for charity again this year? I thought we were splitting it up. Ooooh, wow. I didn’t uh, wow. What night is that?

Kevin: You need to reconsider? April 3rd. It’s a Saturday night.

B: You can make it. You’ve already committed. “ Tracy seems to be on a mission to impregnate as many women as he can, so we thought we might give him an anthem to go along with it.
” Jimmy Kimmel

JK: I thought that was one of your pranks that you’re so beloved for.

K: No! No, Jim!

JK: So that really is like a charity thing. Huh. Wow.

K: Here’s how we used Jimmy. Last year we found out Jimmy was on, so then we went to the comedians and we said “Hey, Jimmy’s Kimmel’s doing it,” and then they would go, “oh, ok. Yeah. Alright,” cause he’s holding. They all know. Look, you already sent us a letter that was signed and all that.

JK: Yeah, I know, but I signed it with my left hand.

[...]

B: [...] you’ve got a big Oscar special after the late local news on Sunday following the Academy Awards. How many years in a row’ve you been doing this, Jim?

JK: This is the 5th annual, so I guess like 8? Yeah.

B: And it’s very top secret, so there’s a lot of stuff under wraps that I know you can’t talk about, but what can you say about Sunday night?

JK: You know, we position things as secrets, when the truth is we’re not completely prepared yet, so it’s a great way to do it. It’s like we’re hoping to get this done, but let’s just say we’re got a big surprise for everyone, but this time it’s almost upon us and we actually do have, you know, we’d done the whole Ben Affleck video after the Oscars, so there’s a lot of pressure to do something big. I think we have something good. I think we have something big, and if not, what are you gonna do?

K: You’ve kinda painted yourself into a corner with that. I mean, you did that Tracy Morgan song that was awesome, “Impregnated.”

JK: Yeah, well Tracy seems to be on a mission to impregnate as many women as he can, so we thought we might give him an anthem to go along with it.

[...]

B: Jimmy, throughout the years, you have sung with a lot of people on your specials and on your TV show. I mean, I remember you doing a thing with Mike Tyson, and you must not be able to believe the situation you find yourself in when you’re singing with a guy like Tracy Morgan, wearing that outfit.

JK: Well as you know, I have a beautiful voice and I like to share it with others.

K: That’s the best part.

JK: Do you remember Sinatra‘s duets album when all the famous singers jumped in with him – in this situation, I am Sinatra, and instead of Bono and Pavarotti, I have Tracy Morgan and Mike Tyson.

K: But basically everybody comes to your shows and they go “we must sing with you” because that’s the hip thing to do, right?

JK: Well, no. I say to them, “you must sing with me.”

K: I see. You demand it. OK.

JK: I try to integrate myself with the African American community.

K: How’s that working out for you?

JK: It’s working out really well actually.

K: Do you have the N-word pass?

JK: No, you know what, I don’t have it yet, but I’m hoping by Christmas.

K: OK, good luck.

[...]

B: Back to the Oscar special Sunday night, Sting is gonna be on the show. Are you singing with him?

JK: Gay!

K: I’m sorry, did you just say “gay?”

JK: He’s gay. Did you know that?

K: No! He seems like the most heterosexual man ever!

JK: Sting is on the show, yeah. No, Sting is not gay, but um, Sting actually is very funny in this thing. He’s really funny, Sting.

K: That I would not have predicted.

[...]

B: Jimmy, do you care about the Oscars? Is this a show that you watch?

JK: No. No, I only care about myself. You know that. No, yeah. Of course I do! It’s fun. I like watching this stuff. I watch it for the wrong reasons. I like to see somebody make an idiot out of themselves. Or hopefully somebody’s drunk, and you know, we’ve never had a vomit during an acceptance speech. That would be nice.

K: Yeah, that would be nice. You’re right! We do need that.

JK: So I look for that sort of thing.

B: There may be vomiting if Mo’nique shows up again with those hairy ass legs.

JK: Oh yeah! That is something else.

B: By the way, have you seen all the talk, it’s been everywhere lately that [...] she’s got an open marriage with her man too. Have you seen that Jimmy?

JK: Yeah, I mean, I don’t see how anyone finds that attractive. That is just horrific! It reminds me of you having sex with your animals, Bean.

K: WOW!

Listen to the complete interview:

(Thanks to Casey for the transcription.)

B: Hey James. How are you man? I wanted to start with mentioning the April Foolishness [comedy show] because Jimmy was one of the guys who was there first for us last year and really got the ball rolling at making that such a spectacular event and we ended up raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. It was great, and Jimmy, I’m so grateful to you that you’ve agreed to come back and be with us on April 3^rd.  I think it’s gonna be a lot of fun that nigh too.

JK: Ooooh, it’s for charity again this year? I thought we were splitting it up. Ooooh, wow. I didn’t uh, wow. What night is that?

K: You need to reconsider? April 3^rd. It’s a Saturday night.

B: You can make it. You’ve already committed.

JK: I thought that was one of your pranks that you’re so beloved for.

K: No! No, Jim!

JK: So that really is like a charity thing. Huh. Wow.

K: Here’s how we used Jimmy. Last year we found out Jimmy was on, so then we went to the comedians and we said “Hey, Jimmy’s Kimmel’s doing it,” and then they would go, “oh, ok. Yeah. Alright,” cause he’s holding. They all know. Look, you already sent us a letter that was signed and all that.

JK: Yeah, I know, but I signed it with my left hand.