On his first night as guest host for the Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday, actor Martin Short asked sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez: “What would Jimmy usually do right now?”
“He would be talking about Donald Trump,” Rodriguez replied.
“Well, I guess you can’t go to Outback Steakhouse without ordering the Bloomin’ Onion,” quipped Short, before launching into his first political jab of the night: “Donald Trump says he’s close to announcing his running mate, and has reportedly narrowed it down to three people. It was four, but O.J. died.”
Short also mocked Trump’s baseless suggestions that President Joe Biden would be using stimulants before the debates. “He’s something, that Trump. He says he wants them both to submit to a drug test before the debate,” said the comedian, referencing both candidates’ advanced ages. “Do you have any idea how long it takes to get a urine sample from men who are close to 80? I’m 74, and the only time I don’t have to pee is when I’m peeing.”
Before wrapping his first night, Short’s friend and Only Murders in the Building co-star, Steve Martin, walked on stage. “I was honored when Jimmy asked me to be the first guest host, but I said no,” a humbled Martin informed the audience. “I said, ‘you’ll be able to find someone who’ll do it for scale. Don’t you worry.’”
“I really do appreciate you being here, Steve,” said Short. “There are very few people in this world that I truly admire, and Steve Martin is very close to being one of them.”
After Martin exited the stage, Short resurrected his iconic character Jiminy Glick for an interview with Bill Hader. Glick, who had just delivered an epic roast of Bill Maher last week, did not miss a beat, and had Hader in tears by the end.