Does he think it was given that he was asked to host:
“I don’t think it was a given that I was asked. I was happy to have been asked. I won’t say I was surprised I’ve been asked, I figured they would ask me. I would’ve been very angry if I hadn’t been asked. So maybe that’s why they asked me.”
Does he plan on hurting someone to be memorable:
“I don’t want to hurt anybody. I never ever want to hurt anyone. Honestly if I find out that someone’s feelings have been hurt, I feel badly about it for the rest of my life. So that is never my intent. I want to be funny. Sometimes when you are funny people do get their feelings hurt, but I am going to try to avoid that.”
Did he practice an Emmy speech as a kid?
“No, I didn’t. I did not have any delusions of grandeur as a kid. I never imagined being on television. I just really wanted to have one in color. That was my goal.”
What is the best thing to happen to him this year?:
“Well the Emmy nomination was very exciting for us because as a staff we start to feel like the Bad News Bears. Not that we felt like we deserved an Emmy nomination, but we did feel like we deserved an Emmy nomination. Everybody was very excited. It’s fun to see staff. I have to say, I probably, I convinced myself it doesn’t matter and I have to say it was exciting to see how excited the staff was because it reminds you it’s there show too and they are invested in it as you are. So it was a fun day.”
On being the only late night who has not done stand up at some point in his career. (He didn’t realize he that he is the only one.):
“I came up through radio. I think it was good preparation for me. It definitely taught me what it was like to do a show everyday 5 days a week. It prepared me for the grind.”
Why talk shows fail.:
“The #1 reason talk shows fail is the host doesn’t know how much work they are. A lot of people go in with a lot of arrogance thinking they are going to be able to show up at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and chit chat with people and be funny every night. It’s not that easy. You really have to pour yourself into it to do it right, I think.”
If he were President, what would be the first thing he would do?:
“I would find out if there were UFOs…I’d go right into the Roswell files and then I would resign.”
I think the last answer gives you the best idea of what an awesome host he will be tonight, so tune in to The Emmys tonight on ABC and see what else he comes up with to honor television’s biggest night. And once you realize that is as funny as I have been saying for years, check out Jimmy Kimmel Live weeknights on ABC at 12m.
