Jimmy Kimmel is teaming up with Brent Montgomery to launch a new media company, Kimmelot, which will exist under the Wheelhouse Entertainment umbrella.
Under the terms of the pact, Kimmel will also become a partner in Wheelhouse, which Montgomery launched in January after stepping down as CEO of ITV America. Montgomery is CEO of Wheelhouse.
Kimmelot, which was described Tuesday in a media release as Kimmel’s “creative lab,” will be based in Los Angeles. It will operate in the unscripted, scripted, digital and app/mobile-based realms.
“Brent’s vision for Wheelhouse Entertainment is simple and brilliant and I knew immediately that I wanted to be part of it,” Kimmel said. “Brent and I have a nice balance of monkey and business. Kimmelot will be a place where ideas are made real, from concept to completion.”
“There’s a saying — ‘If you want something done, give it to a busy person,’” Montgomery said. “That sentiment, along with Jimmy’s talent, heart, creative curiosity and crazy stamina make him an enigmatic superhero of comedy, and of writing, producing and industry building. From ‘The Man Show’ to the Emmys, the Oscars, and keeping ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ appointment viewing 16 years in, Jimmy’s reach is unrivaled in entertainment and way beyond – and most importantly, he’s just the greatest guy.”
Montgomery continued: “We’re both excited to build a haven for the best talent in the business that want to cut through some of the proverbial red tape and get stuff done. I’m truly humbled to collaborate with Jimmy in our Wheelhouse/Kimmelot partnership, and am ready for the ride of a lifetime.”
Kimmel is represented by Dixon Talent, whom brokered the deal in partnership with WME and through law firms DLA Piper, and Jackoway, Austen, Tyerman.
Wheelhouse’s Rob Lia and Ed Simpson also worked out the details.