What did Jimmy Kimmel say? Jay Leno recalls late-night host “humiliating” him during 2010 Tonight Show appearance

In a recent appearance on In Depth With Graham Bensinger, Jay Leno talked about his feud with Jimmy Kimmel.

The former Tonight Show host talked about when his competitor appeared on his show and humiliated him. Jimmy was a special guest on The Jay Leno Show's "10 at 10" segment and took constant jibes at the host while answering the interview questions. Commenting on Kimmel's remarks, the comedian-TV host said (via Variety),

“When Kimmel came on my show and humiliated me on my own show, I let it happen. I didn’t edit it. It was my mistake, I trusted somebody. I went, ‘Ah, I made a mistake. Okay, I should pay the price.’ And it’s fine, it’s fine. I mean, we could have edited it out of the show.”

In 2010, Jimmy Kimmel performed an impression of Jay Leno on Live! during the conflict between Conan O'Brien and Leno for the late-night time slot on NBC and hosting The Tonight Show. After seemingly insulting Leno, Kimmel was invited as a special guest to Leno's prime-time show for "10 at 10."

Jay asked Jimmy 10 questions, which he answered somewhat tauntingly. In response to a particular question about the best prank he ever pulled, Kimmel said,

“I think the best prank I ever pulled was, I told a guy, 5 years from now, I’m gonna give you my show, and then when the 5 years came, I gave it to him, and then I took it back almost instantly. It was hilarious. I think he works at Fox or something now.”

Jimmy Kimmel's response referenced the Tonight Show fiasco in which Conan O'Brien succeeded Jay Leno, but within a year, the previous host was back to present the late-night talk show. The four-time Academy Awards anchor continued to throw shade at Jay Leno's Garage host.

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Jimmy Kimmel took multiple shots at the host during his 2010 appearance on The Jay Leno Show

During the 2010 conflict between Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien, the latter stepped down as the host of his late-night talk show. At that time, Jimmy Kimmel was already hosting Live! and openly supported the anchor of the 97th Academy Awards. After being invited to The Jay Leno Show, the voice actor of The Boss Baby ensured that he would express his support for O'Brien.

On being asked about who he would interview if he got an opportunity, Jimmy Kimmel answered,

“You [Leno] and Conan together. I’d like to have the two of you.”

He then referenced the O'Brien-Leno conflict in his answer to the next question about the best prank he ever pulled. Jay, who laughed it off, then asked whether Jimmy ever bought anything off the TV. The Live! host again took a jibe at his colleague and said,

“Like NBC ordered your show off the TV?”

In the following question, Kimmel again referenced canceling The Jay Leno Show before answering. Jimmy was then asked about his greatest fear. The former host of The Man Show replied with what he might actually fear before making another joke about the schedule conflict of The Jay Leno Show.

“I fear the network will move my show to 10 O'Clock.”

On being asked about which show he would want to host, Jimmy Kimmel quipped,

"Oh, this is a trick, right? Where you get me to host 'The Tonight Show' and then take it back from me?"

After Kimmel answered the final question about why he appeared on The Jay Leno Show, he subtly called out the host,

“Listen, Jay, Conan and I have children. All you have to take care of is cars. I mean, we have lives to lead here. You've got $800 million. For God's sakes, leave our shows alone."

It wasn't the first time Jimmy Kimmel had taken a direct shot at Jay, as he had previously impersonated him and claimed (as Leno) that he was "taking over all the show in the late-night." He satirized his rival TV host and asserted that he would participate "in the destruction of The Tonight Show," referencing Conan O'Brien's statement before he left NBC.