Jason Kelce is officially in the late night talk show era!
They call it Late Night with Jason Kelce premiered Saturday, Jan. 4, on ESPN with an array of inaugural guests — including fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, Within the NBA host Charles Barkley, musician and Philadelphia native Lil Dicky (whose real name is David Burd).
As he took the stage in front of the live audience, Kelce made several jokes about how his new act was the result of his parents, Ed and Donna Kelce — who were both in the audience — letting him stay up as a child to watched late night shows.
“Wow, how did we get here?” Kelce, 37, said in his opening monologue. “Yeah, I have my own late-night show. I’m not really sure how we got here. I loved watching Conan as a kid. I thought he was funny, and now I’m up here doing my own show.”
“My parents are here,” he continued. “Mom, Dad, you were wrong, it turns out that letting me stay up late at night was a good thing watching TV.”
He then turned the audience’s attention to his wife, Kylie Kelce, who, at the viewer’s discretion, added about the show’s language from her special spot called “Kylie’s Corner,” before heading to the bar where he was served a pint (which he promptly gulped down) from a cast member. Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Eagles player Harold Carmichael.
Jason Kelce reveals the ‘advice’ Jimmy Kimmel gave him ahead of his new late-night show
The show featured several entertaining segments including Kelce visiting Kimmel for advice.
This was followed by a conversation with Barkley, Lil Dicky and former football offensive lineman Brian Baldinger, who also tried their hand at NFL film commentary, and a beer drinking contest.
Jason Kelce.
Don Feria/AP Content Services
The ex-footballer previously spoke about his ideas for the series – which is filmed in Philadelphia – revealing the importance of having “a piece of the Philadelphia scene”.
“This first show is definitely going to be pretty Philly, but eventually it’s going to evolve into a more national show, but I always want them to feel and hear the Philly roots. That was an important thing for us,” Kelce said, per Philadelphia Eagles.
He noted that it was “really a challenge to make and put all the things together in a show like this”, and recording for the first time made him “aware of how difficult it is to record things live”.
He added: “I did Saturday night live with my brother (Travis Kelce) and Monday night countdown on ESPN. But there is also a challenge. And one of the things I really enjoy is that so many people are involved and everyone has a role to play.”
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Jason Kelce.
Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty
ESPN described the show as “a new one-hour personality-driven program that will air alongside the NFL regular season finale and playoffs where Kelce will take the audience on a ride showcasing his outsized personality and infectious humor.”
Each of the five episodes will feature celebrity guests along with the former Philadelphia Eagles star discussing the NFL combined with comedy and live music.
November 21, during a performance at Jimmy Kimmel Live!Kelce confirmed the news that he will host his own late-night show on ESPN in 2025.
“Yes, I’m starting, I believe it’s January 3rd—I hope it’s January 3rd! — we’re going to do a late-night show during the postseason on ESPN,” he said at the time. “It’s going to air every Friday.”
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“When I first approached ESPN about working for them, Monday Night Football was a big part of it, Monday night countdown“, added Kelce.
After his appearance on the late night show, Kelce revealed on his podcast, New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, Nov. 27, that Kimmel, 57, gave him tons of advice regarding his new career endeavor.
“I got to see Jimmy Kimmel last week and I thought it was absurd. It was hilarious,” Kelce said at the time. “Jimmy was the man, offered tons of advice, got to follow him around all day.”
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Source: HIS Education