Comedians will be the first to tell you that you shouldn’t take them seriously. Jon Stewart, the Walter Cronkite of Comedy Central’s fake newsroom, says so every time “The Daily Show” is hailed for its perceived trustworthiness in the news and information space. John Oliver expresses similar sentiments whenever someone praises the sound journalism employed in “Last Week Tonight.”

Even Joe Rogan occasionally reminds the public that he is, in his words, “a f**king moron.” Usually, that happens when his audience takes to heart his opinions on, say, the necessity of the COVID vaccine or the wisdom of voting for an autocrat.

Jimmy Kimmel, however, would like you to take him seriously right now. That hasn’t always been the case. Topical humor may be the bread and butter of his “Jimmy Kimmel Li

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