John Mulaney Jokes About Being 'Half-Fired' on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Praises Stephen Colbert

Comedian John Mulaney revealed during a Tuesday night appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he was only “half-fired” from his role as host of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” rather than being fully terminated. Mulaney suggested that if he had been fully fired, he would have praised Kimmel as late night’s “kindest” and “coolest” host instead of Stephen Colbert.

“Our friend Stephen Colbert, he’s only got weeks to live,”

Kimmel joked early in the conversation, clarifying, “By live, I mean on television.”

Kimmel then referenced a recent Instagram post Mulaney made following his final episode on “The Late Show.” The post included the caption: “My last time at the Ed Sullivan Theater with the kindest, coolest man in late night.”

When the studio audience applauded Mulaney’s praise for Colbert, Kimmel quipped, “Can I just say right now to the audience? Applause was not the reaction I was looking for.”

Kimmel Challenges Mulaney’s Praise for Colbert

Kimmel took issue with the intensity of Mulaney’s compliment, noting that Colbert is set to conclude his hosting duties on May 21, following CBS’ sudden cancellation of “The Late Show” last year. He told Mulaney:

“Now, ‘kindest,’ I could have definitely dealt with, for sure. Even ‘coolest’ on its own, I for sure could have done. Adding ‘kindest coolest in late night’ really narrows it down! Really narrows it down to just a few guys.”

Kimmel also recalled confronting Mulaney about the Instagram post shortly after it was published. He referenced a text he sent Mulaney at the time, which read: “I let you live in my house,” referencing a period when Mulaney lived in Kimmel’s guest house during a transitional time in his life.

Kimmel playfully asked Mulaney, “I was just wondering: Was there a period of time where you lived in Stephen’s house for longer?” Mulaney responded with humor, “I have to say, the man’s never invited me over.”

Mulaney Turns the Joke Back on Late-Night Hosts

Mulaney then redirected the lighthearted criticism toward Kimmel and other late-night hosts, joking about the pressure guests face to deliver exaggerated praise. He said:

“What a position you’ve all put us in. You’re all getting suspended and fired constantly! We all have to talk so hyperbolically about all of you so often. We’re out of words! ‘Kindest, coolest,’ who gives a s—t? I mean, he’s off the air! You’ve got to say something nice.”

Mulaney concluded with a self-deprecating remark, adding:

“If you had been full fired, not half fired, I would have said, ‘This is the kindest, coolest guy in late night, and I broke his bathtub once,’”

He was referencing Kimmel’s brief suspension last year. The full interview between Mulaney and Kimmel is available to watch below.