Jimmy Kimmel is expanding his content push with a new partner, Brent Montgomery. The pair have teamed up for a new media company, Kimmelot, to be operated by Montgomery’s Wheelhouse Entertainment.
It’s the most aggressive move for Wheelhouse since Montgomery founded the company in January after wrapping up his tenure as CEO of ITV America. The CEO has made previous pacts with John Cena, Michael Strahan and Bethenny Frankel.
“Brent’s vision for Wheelhouse Entertainment is simple and brilliant and I knew immediately that I wanted to be part of it,” said Kimmel. “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.”
Kimmelot will be based in Los Angeles in addition to having some New York presence. Unlike recent Wheelhouse pacts, a release touting the news noted that Kimmel’s push is not just for content and production — but for marketing and brand-building across Wheelhouse’s emerging lines of business outside of entertainment. Kimmelot will serve as Kimmel’s “creative lab,” operating in the unscripted, scripted, digital and app/mobile-based realms. The deal also sees Kimmel become partner at the company.
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“There’s a saying, ‘If you want something done, give it to a busy person,’” said Montgomery. “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 important, he’s just the greatest guy.”
Kimmel has been making diverse moves of late. The late-night host recently announced that he will be opening a comedy club in Las Vegas with Caesars Entertainment.
Kimmel is repped by Dixon Talent. The deal was brokered by WME/Dixon Talent, law firms DLA Piper and Jackoway, Austen, Tyerman and Wheelhouse’s Rob Lia and Ed Simpson.
