Jimmy Kimmel went back to his roots on Monday to host his late-night show from Brooklyn, New York, and while there he dropped in on history-making ballerina Misty Copeland.
Copeland, who is the first ever African-American female principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre, gave Kimmel and sidekick Guillermo a very special lesson as they ventured out into Manhattan wear
“It took 47 years and a hell of a lot of soul-searching, but today I finally discovered that my passion is ballet,” the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” host said.
Copeland’s first giggling response when the odd couple arrived was “Oh, my God, you’re legs are so hairy,” before getting down to business.
While practicing pliés at the ballet bar, she admitted that she was “extremely nervous about the performances … I just hope they don’t fall and hurt themselves.”
After an intense session in the dance studio that included torturing Kimmel’s testicles — “when you dance like I do, every ballet is ‘The Nutcracker,’” he said — the pair were ready to hit the stage and pirouette with the professionals.
Earlier in his opening monologue, Kimmel told the East Coast audience: “This is our second time in Brooklyn. We were here three years ago in 2012. I like to drop by every now and then to remind you that I’m not just in the back of your cab — I’m a real person too.
“I was born in Brooklyn, and I have to say — Brooklyn really hasn’t changed. It’s still the same collection of mom-and-pop gluten-free artisanal mayonnaise shops that made this borough what it is,” he quipped.
While in town, Kimmel also took part in the far more manly sport of baseball by throwing out the first pitch at the New York Mets-Chicago Cubs game.
“If I throw out the first pitch and the Mets win the World Series — do you think I get a ring?” he asked.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” airs at 11:35 p.m. on ABC.