Jimmy Kimmel Live Appearance A Horse of a Different Color

Last night was the much looked forward to appearance by Clay on Jimmy Kimmel Live. And, as the title of this article, says, it was definitely a horse of a different color! That is, there was lots of horsing around on the show. Uh, and Clay was a little hoarse. Oh, and did I mention that there was a Taco on the show? Er, make that a horse named Taco! You could have knocked me over with a feather, uh, horsefeathers that is!! What a fun surprise for fans everywhere! You don't see Clay riding out on a horse just every day! And apparently Jimmy didn't either! At least not until five minutes into the interview! Ha!! Yes, they had a lot of fun in this interview, moreso it seems than any other to date. They play off each other with their jokes and you can sense a real commradarie there. Its like Lewis and Martin or Hope and Crosby.

For a recap of the show itself, I think that Berkeley from the Ideal Idol couldn't have said it better. Enjoying reliving the show again through her words:

From Ideal-Idol

Clay on Kimmel Show- A Critique
Clay knows his Audience

What a great Climmel last night --- right down to Jimmy and Clay using the word "Climmel."

Why a horse? To me, it was in the great tradition of late night absurdist comedy. Clay enters on a horse, Jimmy remarks that Clay looks taller and Clay says it's probably because of the bright colors he is wearing for spring. Jimmy asks about Clay's UNICEF trip to Afghanistan, Clay makes a few comments that clearly illustrate that he knows what he's talking about, and then they go into some typical Jimmy schtick.

Clay would kill Bin Laden, says he'd probably sell a lot of albums then and remarks that in a cave somewhere, someone is watching the show and putting Clay on their list. Freaking brilliant.

Clay remarks, very casually, that he studied a lot about Afghanistan before he went there, grew a beard in just a month and dressed in traditional men's attire (which he names) to be culturally sensitive --- and snarks that he was the only one in Kabul dressed that way. (Anyone who has seen any news at all from Afghanistan knows that isn't true, but the joke is a good one.) Clay acknowledges the antiquity of such a look by saying he looked like Jesus. (Yes, a Jesus who would kill Bin Laden --- funnier and funnier.) Jimmy zings back with the Obi-Wan Kenobi joke.

Looking at photographs from the trip, Clay includes some subtle points of information but, knowing his audience, he pokes fun at his image, bringing levity to what is essentially a serious topic. He makes several comments that show respect for the Afghan people and for his UNICEF mission, but he's not taking himself seriously. Smart.

This exchange goes on for five minutes and forty-two seconds before Jimmy says, "I just noticed something: you appear to be on a horse." Clay looks around in mock surprise, and then looks down as if noticing the horse for the first time himself.

End segment one.

It's always great fun to come here and talk about these appearances, and it's interesting to me to hear details from people's personal experience and education (Thanks, newland.) At the same time, though, I try to look at this as a casual, non-internet Clay fan would, having decided to watch when they saw the teasers during ABC primetime, but even more than that, as a regular Jimmy Kimmel fan might see the show.

They know Jimmy from The Man Show. They've seen Jimmy do gross-out, guy humor. They remember Jimmy, before he came to network television and started wearing suits.

They will laugh along when Jimmy makes jokes about an equine state of excitement, and will probably appreciate it when Clay doesn't hesitate in joking right back.

These are people who might remember Clay from an appearance or two before. They might have laughed at Clay pinning Jimmy to a wall, throwing him across the room and kicking him in the face. They might recall Clay entering bearing goofy gifts, or showing a Jimmy tattoo on his leg, or singing from candy hearts.

I don't think many late night viewers would be surprised to see celebrities in segments with animal handlers --- that kind of stuff is on all the time. I think the very sight of Clay on a horse with some top hat wearing horse handler got a lot of laughs in a lot of households last night.

And did Clay know who he was playing to? Oh, yes, because even though he was funny then, you don't get this kind of a comment on Leonard Lopate or even Entertainment Tonight:

Regarding singing to the school children, the UNICEF Ambassador who looked like Jesus said, "They all laughed at me. So we wiped them right off the map."

It worked the same reason it worked for me during that early appearance when Clay went all Clay Aiken fan on Jimmy: it's the opposite of his true nature and character, and the contrast is amusing.

"It fits the audience. You gotta know your audience," Clay said.


During an hour of memorable late night entertainment, Clay showed once again that he is a master of that.

I'm so pleased that Clay also talked about being in the process of working on a new CD (shows his career is active), selecting a single producer (shows he has a voice in the creative process) and setting out on a new tour (shows he is an in-demand performer). Other than not performing, I thought it was pretty much a dream appearance.

Hey, I'm easy that way. I even liked the vest.

~berkeley

I love this recap, and before reading it, I didn't realize they talked about so much! Well, Clay was at his best tonight, so he might have beat Jimmy out on most talking done!! And we love it, don't we.

You can download last nights show by going to Clack Unlimited. Or go to The Clayboard to "right click, save" some great pictures capped by gerwhisp starting on Page 37.

I'm already ready for the next Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance. But until that day comes...Happy trails to you, Clay, till we meet again.