Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2007 > July > 27 > Entry
7/27: Kimmel’s victory lap in the ATL
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After ignoring him for more than four years, WSB-TV embraced Jimmy Kimmel Thursday, flying him into Atlanta to meet and greet staff and clients at the TV station, feeding him at Blue Ridge Grill and plying him with drinks at Twist in Phipps Plaza. That’s where we caught him with his agent and various ABC reps for a victory toast. WSB-TV was the last major market station to add “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” his late-night talk show, to its lineup a couple weeks ago.
When WSB-TV invited him to come, he took two days off to do so. And the station kept him and his staff at the Four Seasons, where Jon Bon Jovi was staying, too. At the party, he opened by jokingly saying, “You may not know me but I’m Jimmy Kimmel. And I’m the new quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons.”
At Twist, a WSB-TV “Hot Topics” cameraman followed him around as he shook hands with various fans and non fans who had never really seen him before.
“I have no idea who he is,” acknowledged Whitney Pelletier (below), a hairstylist from Marietta, who nonetheless got her photo taken with him.
Another drunk woman, while I spoke with him, came up and said her daughter knew him and said he was Johnny Carson. “Oh, I’m not Johnny,” he said patiently. “He’s dead.” (A publicist eventually shooed the woman away after he signed an autograph on a napkin for said daughter.)
Others did know him and congratulated him for finally arriving in Atlanta.
Mark Borders (below, with his wife Kristi) had emailed WSB-TV a few years ago complaining about the absence of Kimmel. Amazingly, management saved the email and invited them to hang out at Twist Thursday night to meet him. He sat and spoke with them for a few minutes, then went out of his way to make sure they got pictures. While some of his staff drank heavy, he nursed an Amstel Light before cutting out at about 12:20 a.m.
Michael Canali (below) just moved from D.C. to Chamblee a month ago and brought his fiance Candice Dandurand to the table to give Kimmel props.
Among his entourage was the head of late night programming for ABC, his agent and Uncle Sal, a regular on his show who is actually Kimmel’s cousin. Oh, and Larry Wachs, formerly of the Regular Guys, who befriended Kimmel when Wachs worked in Los Angeles. Wachs is still seeking a job in a tough environment for edgy talk-show hosts like him.
Comments
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By noho
July 27, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this
Only Rodney the Ho could work in a reference to that loser Wachs in an article about Jimmy Kimmel. Did you get Mara Davis’ reaction, what does Kimmer think?
By jss
July 27, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
Lighten up noho.
By Allen
July 27, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
Vicki Locke is leaving. Wachs needs a job…ergo, Steve and Wachs in the Morning…only Wachs has to dress in drag.
By Ole Man Bourbon
July 27, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
Jeez, Kimmel looks annihilated.
By Jennifer
July 27, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this
I for one sorely miss Larry Wachs. And the tips from Uncle Sal the Bookie. Glad Jimmy is keeping him in work.
By Nathan
July 27, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this
I always remember him as Cousin Sal The Bookie when he was on the Regular Guys.
By Sheryl
July 27, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Glad Channel Dur finally decided to go with what the rest of the nation was rolling on the floor laughing with…we’ve only been seeing excerps from this show on major news shows for two years! Speed UP!!!!
By Spike
July 27, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
I saw where Jimmy Kimmel did last night’s Cash 3 lottery drawing. Too, too funny.
Welcome to Atlanta, Jimmy!
By Ben Stein
July 27, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
Jimmy Kimmel sucks.
By Sheyrl
July 27, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this
Glad Channel Dur finally decided to carry the show that the rest of the nation has been rolling on the floor laughing with…we’ve only been seeing excerpts from his show on major news shows for two years now! Geeze, SPEED UP!!
By Bud
July 27, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this
Wachs is a pathetic, washed-up DJ who sounded bored and tired on the air. I hope he leaves Atlanta and never comes back.
By friendofbud
July 27, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
“Wachs is still seeking a job in a tough environment for edgy talk-show hosts like him”
Where exactly was he an edgy talk show host? On WGST for two weeks? As a less than occasional fill in? Kind of like calling Rodney Ho a journalist.
By mike
July 27, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this
Maybe the enviroment is “tough” for Wachs because prospective employers saw how much ratings shot up at KLS as soon as they got rid of him.
By Drew the Democrat
July 27, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this
Actually, Mike, the ratings went down. Be strong.
By johnboy
July 30, 2007 7:09 AM | Link to this
“Wachs is still seeking a job in a tough environment for edgy talk-show hosts like him.”
I thought that guy was dead.
By asdflk
July 30, 2007 7:43 AM | Link to this
Wachs’ lack of good judgment is what’s hurting him. He seems to put his employer at risk. And he can thank this “tough environment” on the right-wing kooks he so loves.
By Northside Steve
July 30, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this
An example of Wach’s “edginess”: Less than 10 minutes after the first plane hit the twin towers on 9/11, Wachs was blaming it on the Democrats. Shows you what a scumbag he really is.
By jss
July 30, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this
Q: How many names can one Wachs hater post here as? A:7 (and counting)
By r. ho
July 30, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Sanjaya Malakar is still seeking a recording contract in a tough enviroment for gifted cutting edge singers like him.
By mike
July 30, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
To JSS: How many names can Wachs use to defend himself here? A:4. Not like he has anything else to do.
By bud
July 30, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
I disagree, I contend there are as many different Wachs haters on this board as there were Regular Guys’ listeners in their last book.
By Andrew Card
July 30, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this
I think Wachs posts both positive and negative comments about himself just to keep his name out there. Must suck to be an unemployable right-wing radio host. How bad do you have to be when you can’t even make it in a field where the market is monopolized and all the stations, owners, etc. share your own political persuasions?
At least Von Hessler saw the handwriting on the wall and gave up. Now he just tosses off boring right-wing columns for the boring right-wing “Sunday Paper” alongside boring right-wing hacks Lisa Baron and Stephanie “Psycho” Ramage.
By jss
July 30, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this
Andrew: Interesting how you used in “right-wing” 4 times in 5 sentences. Wow.
By Andrew Card
July 31, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this
jss: If you find that interesting, then I have a ball of yarn that would probably blow your mind. Now go on back to Rush and Sean so you can learn what you’re supposed to think today.
By jss
July 31, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
I’ll bet it’s left-wing yarn.
By Norma Lee
July 31, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this
Jimmy Kennel and L have been good friend for years. L need to straighten up and forgive me - then he will see. He get a job right away.
By Super mega awesome jew
August 1, 2007 12:50 AM | Link to this
Larry Wachs is as close to perfect as this world is ready for. Enjoy the AIDS :D
By jss
August 1, 2007 7:32 AM | Link to this
?
By Norma Lee
August 1, 2007 8:23 PM | Link to this
It seems to me lots of people liked Larry Wachs when he was one of “The Regular Guys” now when he is not working you dog him to death! A crowd of poor losers here. He’s more of a man than lots of you put together. I didn’t post the posting 3 posting above. Someone else did. But let me tell you Larry Wachs as far as I am concern is a friend and always will be. If a man like Jimmy Kennel has been friends with Larry for years he must know real class. God bless You Larry. I wish you success & happiness.
By lt
August 7, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this
Larry was a great radio personality and has left a most definite void in Atlanta morning radio. I listened every morning for many years and wish him the very best..