Jimmy Kimmel Makes an Emotional Return to ‘Live!’ with a Very Special Guest
Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night TV wouldn’t be complete without a baby Billy cameo. (Warning: Squealing is about to ensue.)
On last night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel took the stage for the first time since Billy underwent his second heart surgery and (much to our delight) delivered his opening monologue with the little guy clinging to his chest. He said, “I was out last week because this guy had heart surgery. But look, he’s fine, everybody. He may have pooped, but he’s fine.”
Kimmel also expressed his gratitude toward the guest hosts who stepped in during his hiatus—Chris Pratt, Tracee Ellis Ross, Neil Patrick Harris and Melissa McCarthy—and held back tears as he thanked the doctors and nurses at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for taking such good care of Billy and other children. He joked, “Daddy cries on TV, but Billy doesn’t. It’s unbelievable.”
Billy was diagnosed with a rare heart condition, tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with pulmonary atresia, shortly after his birth on April 21, 2017, and Kimmel has since been an advocate for affordable health care.
Although Billy isn’t in the clear just yet, Kimmel revealed that he is recovering better than expected. He added, “Billy is doing great, by the way, he has one more surgery. This is amazing: he had an operation a week ago—they say he’ll probably be on track to win at least a bronze medal in the Olympics in 2036.”
Looks like Boomer Phelps and Alexis Olympia Ohanian have some competition.
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