Jimmy Kimmel Live is officially back in Brooklyn for a week of filming at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. This marks the eighth time the show has returned to the borough where Kimmel was born and spent his early years, and the production is pulling out all the stops.
The host noted that the show received over 150,000 ticket requests for this trip. He kicked off the residency with a guest list featuring Pete Davidson and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, plus a performance by TV on the Radio to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their album Return to Cookie Mountain, Variety reported.
The atmosphere was lively, even without the typical antics like an actor exposing himself in a bathroom. Kimmel was instead heckled by Matt Damon, who showed up in a Boston Red Sox cap just before the Yankees and Red Sox AL Wild Card Series. Damon was joined by Kimmel’s mother and sister, along with Jon Hamm, who was dressed up as an angry New York City construction worker.
Mamdani always brings conversations back to his core agenda of serving New Yorkers
After sitting down with Pete Davidson to discuss his Netflix video podcast, The Pete Davidson Show, and his upcoming film How to Rob a Bank, Kimmel brought Mayor Mamdani to the stage. The segment started with a montage of clips from Fox News personalities who had predicted that New York City would become terrifying under Mamdani and that crime would go through the roof. These predictions proved incorrect, as murders and shootings in the city actually hit record lows during the first seven months of his term.
Kimmel to Mamdani: "I live in Los Angeles and that is not the reception our mayor would get" pic.twitter.com/Y8Pj5imJbP
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 29, 2026
Kimmel pivoted to the relationship between the Mayor and President Trump, noting that it appeared to be quite friendly. He asked if the two hit it off immediately or if the Mayor had a specific strategy to charm the President.
Mamdani laughed off the idea of a deep personal bond and clarified that they have many disagreements. He explained that their shared love for the city was the foundation of their first meeting in November of last year. His focus, he said, was purely on how to use that time to make life in the city easier for New Yorkers.
The host then played a clip of the Mayor standing next to President Trump at Gracie Mansion during a rambling speech. In the footage, the camera zooms in on Mamdani, who maintains a stone-faced expression while the President speaks. Kimmel remarked that it was a remarkable moment and joked that Mamdani is not someone he would want to play poker with.
The Mayor explained that during those moments, he is entirely focused on securing federal approval for the Sunnyside Yard project. This development in Queens is a massive initiative that would feature an estimated 12,000 new homes and create approximately 30,000 jobs.
When Kimmel asked about reports that the two communicate via text, the Mayor confirmed they are in touch from time to time. He emphasized that these conversations are strictly about delivering for the city, specifically mentioning his push for the Sunnyside Yard project. He also highlighted his advocacy for Haitian New Yorkers, noting that he is pushing for stability for those who have had their protected status ended. He told the audience that they are a vital part of the fabric of the city.
The interview reached a funny peak when Kimmel asked if they could text a selfie to the President right then and there. Mamdani did not hesitate to decline the request. He told the host, “Jimmy, I love you, but I love housing more.”
