On Friday, Jimmy Kimmel announced that he’s taking time off from his show. I went to visit him the next day to talk about why, but mostly I went to see the inside of his house. Ever since he started taping his show from his dining room—with that bizarre floral wallpaper, I’ve been curious about what the rest of his house looks like.
Bea: Thanks for doing this with me, Jimmy.
Jimmy: No problem. Thanks for having me.
Bea: Well, we’re in your home. Technically you are having me.
Jimmy: Right, but what I mean is thanks for having me on your show… or whatever this is.
Bea: It’s a written interview, Jimmy. Whatever we talk about, I’ll transcribe it and then publish it.—Though maybe not, judging by how it’s going.
Jimmy: Right, I’m on vacation mode, sorry, it’s hard for me to engage in a conversation.
Bea: Walk me through your decision, why did you decide to take the entire summer off when you can’t go anywhere, or visit anyone, or do anything?
Jimmy: Well, I just felt like it was time to take a break.
Bea: But what are you gonna do during your break, Jimmy?!
Jimmy: Well, I want to cook, and have time to read my novels… and I want to spend some quality time with my family.
Bea: Okay. But do they want to spend quality time with you?
Jimmy: I mean… yes, I hope so.
Bea: Well, guess it doesn’t matter now. Their fate is sealed.
Jimmy: [Silence]
Bea: “Brace yourselves kids because papa Jimmy has nothing to do and wants to hang out.”
Jimmy: I guess…
[Silence]
Bea: What are you looking forward to doing with your wife during this time?
Jimmy: Lots of things. I really want to go for walks and maybe watch some movies after we put the kids to bed.
Bea: You like to live dangerously, don’t you?
Jimmy: I do. Why do you ask?
Bea: What about the Emmys? ABC announced that you’ll be hosting the awards this year. Is that going to be a problem with all the reading you want to do and the endless walks you want to take?
Jimmy: I think I’ll manage. The Emmys are not happening until September so there’s still time.
Bea: Thank the Lord.
Jimmy: Absolutely.
Before I left, I took a quick unauthorized tour of his place. After being in his office, I offered his wife Molly to help re-hang the pictures. She politely declined. Her loss, I thought, and then quickly left their home. By then I could sense they both really wanted me gone.
Read more interviews by Bea:
—Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock Open Up About the Reason They Decided to Divorce
