Trump as a dumpster fire? Jimmy Kimmel gag gives Roy Wood Jr. pause
When Alabama comedian and TV host Roy Wood Jr. brought footage of himself fighting a literal dumpster fire, Jimmy Kimmel brought the easy shot at Donald Trump.
If nothing else, the exchange during Monday’s episode of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” shows what it takes to stop the quick-witted Wood in his tracks. He obviously wasn’t thinking about going political when he visited Kimmel’s show to talk about a visit with Los Angeles firefighters and the new Hulu special he’s releasing on Friday.
Wood told Kimmel that he’d wanted to get a firefighter T-shirt to help promote first responders who’d been fighting the massive wildfires devastating the Los Angeles area. That led to him riding along with the firefighting crew of Station 16 in Compton.
“I’m thankful to be out here and just have an opportunity to, as best I can, get an understanding what’s going on and also see where I can help,” said Wood. He explained that because Compton is “way south of everything that’s been making the news,” the crew hasn’t been fighting wildfires directly. But they have been covering more territory as resources have been shifted to battle the blazes.
After some mockery of his “slow motion” descent of the firehouse pole — “I’m 46, man, you can’t just be racing down the pole like that” — Wood talked about a ride-along that stretched out as one call followed another. And yes, one was a blazing dumpster.
“Oh, it’s the president,” said Kimmel, who clarified a few seconds later that he meant the president-elect.
“Oh year, it was a dumpster fire,” said Wood. He paused and decided to pass up on the opportunity to pile on. “I was a dude on a truck learning about what other benevolent people are doing for the people of southern California.” Firefighting was the first job he ever wanted, he said, but the physical fitness requirements put him off and he decided to major in journalism instead.
Some context on Kimmel’s part: He began Monday night’s broadcast with an emotional monologue about the “very scary, very stressful, very strange week” the show’s staff had experienced. “I think I speak for all of us when I say it has been a sickening, shocking, awful experience,” Kimmel said. “But it has also been in a lot of ways a beautiful experience, because once again we see our fellow men and women coming together to support each other.”
“I don’t want to get into the vile and irresponsible and stupid things our alleged future president and his gaggle of scumbags chose to say during our darkest and most terrifying hour,” Kimmel said. “The fact that they chose to attack our firefighters, who apparently aren’t white enough to be out there risking their lives on our behalf, it’s disgusting but it’s not surprising.”
Trump has criticized California officials, particularly Gov. Gavin Newsom, saying their policies exacerbated the fires and hampered the response; Newsom and others have disputed the criticisms. Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville questioned by other states should “be bailing out California for choosing the wrong people to lead their state” and said aid should be linked to policy changes.
The monologue and other clips from the show have been designated as fundraisers on YouTube; the streaming service said Tuesday that the clip has helped raise more than $40,000 for World Central Kitchen, which provides meals in crisis situations.
For viewers interested in hearing more about Wood’s upcoming special and his life after “The Daily Show,” his appearance revealed an insight or two.
“I titled the special ‘Lonely Flowers’ because I feel like we as a people we’re all beautiful but we’re separated,” said Wood. “Put flowers together, you have a bouquet, and that’s something that’s beautiful. And I think that what we’ve learned over the past couple of days in these fires in Los Angeles is just how beautiful of a society we are when things come together.”
As for his recent career moves, he conceded that not landing the gig as “Daily Show” host stung a little.
“I told my mama, originally, when Trevor Noah said he was leaving the Daily Show, I called my mom, I’m like, ‘They might let me host. You can go on and quit your job,’ he said. “And then I didn’t get to host, I had to call my mom back, I said ‘You ain’t quit that job now, did you? Good. But Hulu gon’ hook me up. I might can pay off the car. We’ll see.‘”
“Lonely Flowers” will begin streaming Friday, Jan. 17, on Hulu.