Jimmy Kimmel Went Ape Shit

Upfronts are super key for TV Networks. It is the event where they announce their fall season for advertisers and try to convince them how awesome their new Fall Schedule will be. Usually all the stars show up to give the presentation the WOW factor. So, no surprise, ABC would trot out former Comedy Central Schmubb and current Late Night TV Show host, Jimmy Kimmel. However, what was surprising was the fact taht Jimmy pretty much lost his mind, and said this:

In a “Jerry Maguire”-like moment of clarity, Mr. Kimmel said, “Everything you’re going to hear this week is” nonsense… “These new fall shows? We’re going to cancel about 90 percent of them. Maybe more.” To the ABC advertisers, Mr. Kimmel said, “Every year we lie to you and every year you come back for more. You don’t need an upfront. You need therapy. We completely lie to you, and then you pass those lies onto your clients.” [...]In closing, Mr. Kimmel said, “I think all our shows are going to work this year. I really do.” He paused. “I don’t, really.”Before departing the stage, he said: “The important thing to remember is: who cares, it’s not your money.” [NYT Arts Beat]

Um... what the hell, Jimmy? Talk about throwing egg in everyone's faces. This a P.R. night mare for ABC, because even if the comments were meant to be a joke, it's not the kind of joke I'd tell. This is like going to a birthday party for your boss, at his house, and getting up to give him a toast, and then you decide to make a joke about how he's cheating on his wife with the secretary. Sure, it may be true, but you just don't do it.