Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade
Episode: Jimmy Kimmel & The Celebrities We Love
Date: January 22, 2026
Guests: Jimmy Kimmel
Hosts: Dana Carvey & David Spade
Episode Overview
In this lively, laugh-packed episode, Dana Carvey and David Spade welcome late-night legend Jimmy Kimmel for a candid conversation spanning comedy, show business, late-night TV production, celebrity encounters, and existential musing. The trio reminisces about stand-up, navigates behind-the-scenes late-night grind, swaps stories about star charisma and fan interactions, and shares personal takes on everything from aliens and ghosts to parenting and showbiz friendships. Along the way: witty banter, light roasting, and moments of genuine reflection.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Grind of Late-Night TV
Timestamps: 05:24, 12:45, 13:05, 18:16, 19:23
- Jimmy Kimmel details the demanding daily schedule of hosting his show, from combing through a massive packet of monologue jokes at 9:15 AM to wrapping at 6:15 PM:
- “At 9:15, I get an email with like 30 pages of jokes and bit ideas…I whittle it down to about four pages…then rehearsal, then a writing session on the monologue from 3 to 5, then the show from five to six.” (13:05)
- Kimmel, Spade, and Carvey compare the realities of hosting—a parade of meetings, rewrites, and constant creative pressure.
- Kimmel notes the surprising energy demands compared to older late-night formats, and discusses how the schedule shifted over the years to accommodate family and life balance.
Hosting, Interviewing, & The Art Behind the Desk
Timestamps: 22:02, 22:18, 22:41, 23:40
- Interviewing comics is uniquely challenging:
- Jimmy: “When you’re interviewing a comic, it’s weirdly the easiest and hardest at the same time. My natural inclination would be to say something funny when a story’s going on. But you know, with a comic, they’re getting to something…you don’t want to ruin it.” (22:41)
- Monologue Writing & Delivery:
- He describes rewriting monologue drafts with help from a small team to ensure the humor lands in his own voice. (14:03)
- Surviving slow nights:
- Kimmel: “If the audience has too much energy, I will subtract some, and if they don’t have enough, I will add some.” (14:58)
Nostalgia: Old Comedy Haunts, SNL Stories, & Legends
Timestamps: 08:00, 25:15, 28:10, 43:14
- The hosts fondly recall classic Hollywood eateries (Cheesecake Factory, Hamburger Hamlet) and reflect on nights of live comedy.
- They swap stories about the unpredictable magic of Don Rickles, Super Dave, Rodney Dangerfield, and the unique “mayhem” legends would bring when they’d walk out on stage.
- Dana: “He didn’t have any jokes. He just had these rhythms of put downs.” (25:47)
- Carvey notes how watching old Dick Cavett and Carson shows now feels like witnessing the origins of the podcast format. (21:08)
Celebrity Encounters, Presence, and Fame
Timestamps: 38:28, 43:14, 44:34
- A revealing exchange about celebrity charisma and what separates a movie star from everyone else:
- Kimmel: “Some people…just have this thing, and the audience just goes wild…Half the women think they might [sleep with] him…that’s something only women have.” (38:43)
- Dana and David share surreal moments from their SNL Mondays, when mega-stars like Robert Mitchum or Sharon Stone would just drop by their office.
- Kimmel’s moving account of working with Oprah:
- “Oprah…she just was a presence, like a religious experience for everyone…She really understood what she was to everybody.” (40:45)
- After working all day, Oprah made personal time for the crew and even gave a toast before leaving. (41:24)
- The trio jokes about the awkward dynamic of being recognized (or not) in public, especially in DMV lines or with their children's friends.
Stories About Showbiz Friends, “Posse” Dinners, and Paul Anka
Timestamps: 50:04, 50:26, 51:07
- When asked about Hollywood friendships, Kimmel confirms his inner circle includes Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, and that he had just dined with them, Paul Anka, and Cyndi Lauper the night before. (50:26)
- Dana tells a story about Paul Anka coaching him to win $5,000 in Vegas blackjack: “Within a half hour I was up to five grand. I did it my way.” (51:07)
- The topic turns to Sinatra’s greatest hits, with everyone collectively agreeing on “My Way.” (52:08)
Strange, Absurd, and Existential Exchanges
Timestamps: 33:33, 54:12, 55:45, 58:52
- The group riffs on UFOs, astrology, and the unlikely odds of human existence:
- Dana: “What are the odds the Earth exists and we’re on it? Right now it’s 2 trillion to 1.” (35:48)
- Carvey describes a ghostly sleep paralysis experience and leaving a hotel in the middle of the night, painting a spooky, comedic scene. (54:12)
- They discuss the hidden “cost” of AI and data centers, marveling at the sci-fi reality we’re entering:
- Kimmel: “Hopefully the AI will figure out how to provide all the energy that it needs. If it is something we should fear, it’ll probably figure that out for itself.” (57:17)
Parenting, Night Owls, and Late-Night Wind Downs
Timestamps: 59:16, 60:23
- Kimmel shares his family routine after the show — racing home to put his kids to sleep and bonding over Harry Potter books and movies.
- Jimmy and Dana both confess they’re naturally nocturnal.
- Dana impersonates John Travolta, and Kimmel recalls spooning with him as a joke. (61:34, 61:39)
The Tom Cruise Effect & The Last Movie Stars
Timestamps: 62:31, 63:55
- Kimmel marvels at Tom Cruise’s energy, recounting how Tom was supposed to leave at a specified time, but instead greeted every fan in the audience.
- “Now Tom being Tom Cruise seems to have no idea of this and decides to go into the audience and greet every person in the audience.” (62:31)
- Spade and Carvey reflect on the spectacle and mystique of today’s movie stars: Cruise, Pitt, and the lost era of Hollywood privacy.
- Dana: “They call him the last movie star, but he rejects the title.” (64:20)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Interviewing Comics
“My natural inclination would be to say something funny…but you know, with a comic…you don’t want to ruin it. And I also don’t love knowing the jokes beforehand.”
— Jimmy Kimmel (22:41)
On Oprah’s Presence
“She just was a presence. It was almost a religious experience for everyone there.”
— Jimmy Kimmel (40:51)
On Celebrity and Recognition
“It’s funny what you don’t want. You’re like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to be bothered,’ but then you’re like, ‘You know who I am, right?’”
— Jimmy Kimmel (45:46)
On The Magic of Tom Cruise
“Now Tom being Tom Cruise seems to have no idea of this and decides to go into the audience and greet every single person…It takes a very long time. It turns out whatever that deadline was, wasn’t so hard after all.”
— Jimmy Kimmel (62:31)
On Parenthood & “Bedtime”
“He’s eight years old. He still likes me to lay in bed with him until he falls asleep. Even though we feel he’s too old for that, we love it.”
— Jimmy Kimmel (59:33)
On Existential Odds
“What are the odds the Earth exists and we’re on it? Right now it’s 2 trillion to 1.”
— Dana Carvey (35:48)
On AI and the Future
“Hopefully the AI will figure out how to provide all the energy it needs. If it’s something we should all fear, it’ll probably figure that out for itself.”
— Jimmy Kimmel (57:17)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 05:24 – Introduction to Jimmy Kimmel
- 13:05 – Jimmy’s daily show schedule detailed
- 18:16 – Live vs. “Dusk” realities of late-night taping
- 22:41 – Interview dynamics with comics and not reading jokes ahead
- 25:15 – Rickles, Rodney, and comedy legends
- 38:43 – The aura of true celebrities in person
- 40:51 – The Oprah effect and making moments meaningful
- 41:24 – Oprah’s after-hours toast and leaving a real impression
- 50:26 – Kimmel’s Hollywood friend group and Paul Anka story
- 54:12 – Dana’s ghostly hotel experience
- 57:17 – AI, data centers, and the real cost of progress
- 59:33 – Jimmy’s post-show parenting ritual
- 62:31 – Tom Cruise, fan moments, and the “last movie star”
Final Notes & Tone
Playful, irreverent, and honest, this episode is a fun blend of insider stories, sincere admiration, and classic humor. The hosts and guest blend rapid-fire jokes with revealing confessions and behind-the-scenes glimpses, making it a must-listen for comedy and late-night fans or anyone interested in the people behind the personas.
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