Jimmy Kimmel breaks up over LA wildfires, takes aim at Trump

“It’s been a very scary, very stressful, very strange week in Los Angeles where we work, where we live, where our kids go to school,” host Jimmy Kimmel said while addressing the audience on his late night talk show.

During his Monday night monologue, Kimmel broke down in tears several times while showing how close the wildfire was to their shooting on the main street of Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

“Many of us had to leave our homes in a hurry; some of our colleagues lost their homes. It’s been terrible,” he said. “Everyone who lives in this city knows someone – most of us, many people; family, friends, colleagues, neighbors – whose homes burned. And the truth is, we don’t even know if it’s over. We had 100 mph winds that fueled this nightmare and as of tonight, the winds are back.

He continued: “I think I speak for all of us when I say that this has been a sickening, shocking, horrible experience, but it has also been, in many ways, a beautiful experience because, once again more, we see our fellow men and women. coming together to support each other, people who have lost their own homes volunteer in parking lots for those who have lost theirs.

Kimmel also took aim at President-elect Donald Trump and his response to the wildfires, which continue to rage and, as of press time, have killed at least 24 people. The Palisades Fire is 14 percent contained, while the Eaton Fire is now 33 percent contained amid warnings that the weather will be “particularly dangerous” on Tuesday.

“Tonight, I don’t want to get into all of the vile, irresponsible and stupid things that our future president and his band of bastards have chosen to say in their darkest and most terrifying hour,” Kimmel said. Then he adds: “The fact that he chose to attack our firefighters who risk their lives for us is disgusting but not surprising. Instead, I want to focus on thanking these men and women, because that’s all we should be doing.

He shouted out every other U.S. state that sent firefighters, as well as Mexico and Canada, as well as every first responder, doctors, local reporters, and Los Angeles actor and virtual guest Steve Guttenberg, whom Kimmel called “national.” treasure” for his work in Los Angeles neighborhoods helping evacuees and those who lost their homes.

Kimmel also praised industry-wide relief efforts, including its parent company Disney donating $15 million on Monday and local restaurants that have stepped up, while encouraging those watching to support LAFD.org. He revealed that at one point he had 19 people and four dogs living with him, and joked about how difficult it was for families to know what to pack when evacuating their homes in a split second. Kimmel said if he had to evacuate, he would grab his phone so he could use the Watch Duty app, a now-essential resource for Angelenos.

Guests on his show included Snoop Dogg, who Kimmel said “represents Los Angeles,” Roy Wood Jr., and Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith of the rock band Dawes, both of whom are among the many Hollywood stars who lost their homes in forest fires.

ABC Jimmy Kimmel Live! resumed production on Monday. The talk show halted production last week after the Los Angeles County fires first broke out on January 7. More than a dozen Los Angeles-based shows had halted production as fires in Pacific Palisades, Altadena and elsewhere in the region continue to burn. across Los Angeles Monday evening, more than 60 square miles so far.

Disney’s 20th Television is keeping most of its productions on hiatus, with Kimmel’s late-night show being an exception. Several television series are expected to resume production this week, including Max’s Tips and and LA Suits. However, other shows, including CBS After midnight and ABC Grey’s Anatomyare still pending.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! also set up a donation center on its grounds behind the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, Kimmel and the show shared in an Instagram post Monday: “We will quickly distribute essential items to those in need.” …Thank you for your support and spread the word to those in our neighborhood.

The donation center will receive gifts in the form of bottled water, Gatorade, baby food, pet food, non-perishable food items, new toiletries and hygiene products, new socks and underwear, diapers and baby wipes.

Kimmel was also among several Hollywood stars who appeared in ESPN’s digital segment broadcast during Monday night’s playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings, which was moved from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood to Arizona . Kimmel joined Snoop Dogg to say, “Stay strong, LA,” with the rapper adding, “Thank you to everyone who is helping us get through this terrible tragedy.” We are in the same boat.

More to come.