Jimmy Kimmel faces off against his archnemesis in the new trailer forWho Wants to Be a Millionaire. Back in January 2020, ABC brought back the iconic game show for a 20th anniversary edition withKimmel as host. It has since been renewed several times, with the fourth installment due to premiere in July. Prominent celebrity guests have included screen legend Jane Fonda andIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Kaitlin Olson.
The new season ofWho Wants to Be a Millionairedebuts July 23 onABCand streams on Hulu, though the network has taken an unusual approach to promoting it. In the fifteen-second video, included below, Kimmel urges viewers not to watch the premiere of the new season. It’s an odd plea from the host and producer of the game show. But as the camera zooms in on his serious face, Kimmel explains that something bad happened and says that he’d rather not draw attention to it. It’s then revealed thatactor Matt Damon— Kimmel’s archnemsis, will be a contestant on the show.
Kimmel’s Feud With Matt Damon Explained
It Goes Way Back
The playful feud goes back to 2005. At the time, Kimmel closed an episode ofJimmy Kimmel Live!by saying, “Apologies to Matt Damon, we ran out of time,” despite the fact that the actor had not been on the show. A year later, Damon did appear as part of a special, though he was cut off after only seconds. This essentially established the running gag that continues to this day.
As suggested by the inclusion of celebrity guests like Ben Affleck and the late Robin Williams, who co-starred with Damon and Affleck inGood Will Hunting, the feud has never been serious. It’s a recurring bit between two friendly celebrities that have been featured at the Oscars, with occasional pranks and aperfect tirade by Damon. But now it will have a new stage, thanks to the seminal game show, and it sounds like it didn’t go too well for Kimmel.
Our Take On Damon’s Inclusion In Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
It’ll Be Interesting
Because of the established structure ofWho Wants to Be a Millionaire,the upside is that there may be a more casual glimpse at the funny dynamic between Damon and Kimmel. Although there will likely be some planned moments and rehearsed bits, there might also be the enjoyment of seeing two pros go at it in a more neutral setting. In any case, this is an interesting way to expand on what may be one of the longest Hollywood gags ever.
