dan: and i am dan ashley. from all of us here, thank you. now, jimmy kimmel. >> announcer: from hollywood, it's "jimmy kimmel live!" tonight -- quinta brunson. ismael cruz córdova. and music from kane brown with cleto and the cletones. and now -- jimmy kimmel! ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] >> jimmy: thank you. welcome. very nice. hello, i'm jimmy. i'm the host of the show. thank you for watching. thank you for joining us here from our studio in southern california.

where, on top of everything else we have to worry about, crime, the heat, earthquakes, kanye west, there is a new threat on the horizon. according to a new study done by researchers at cal berkeley, the wildfires that regularly ravage our state could destroy most of our cannabis crops. >> guillermo: no! >> jimmy: yes, guillermo. cannabis crops are disproportionately impacted by wildfires. largely because the firefighters tasked with putting them out forget what they were doing over when they show up. we are just about two months from the midterm elections. some on the ballot tried to overturn the joe biden's election results.

secretaries of state from both parties certified the vote in every state and yet these low lifves half the republican nominees believed that chicken is a vegetable and just say that's it. this is exactly as dumb as that. and it can't possibly be pointed out enough times. that many of these same republicans who claim they believe the election was bogus were elected in that same, supposedly fraudulent election. somehow they won and he didn't? i don't know how they managed to thread that needle. but probably no person on the planet is more obsess with the election than mr. my pillow mike lindell. mike had a run-in with the feds yesterday, and, well, i'll let you hear it straight from the man himself. >> this afternoon i went down hunting in iowa for the early teal season with my friend this morning at 4:00 a.m. we got up, headed down to iowa. we were coming back.

and we stopped to go through a hardee's in mankato, minnesota. and cars pulled up in front of us, to the side of us and behind us. and i said, um, those are either bad guys or the fbi. >> jimmy: yeah. or maybe you're in an episode of "mankato vice". we don't know. i have so many questions about this. was the fbi following him? or did they just say, you know what, eventually, he's going go to hardee's. we'll just wait here. i have an idea they followed him around for a few days and stopped him in the place that would make the funniest headline. h hardee's felt the need to weigh in, now that you know we exist, you should really try our pillowy biscuits. the fbi is reportedly looking into mike lindell's connection into a colorado county clerk who was indicted for trying to

illegally download data from election equipment after trump lost by 7 million votes, but unfortunately for the pillow man, the news of his legal predicament has not garnered the outpouring of online support hed been hoping for. >> this is going to be big, breaking news right now, everybody. get all your friends out right now. we just did a notification push. i'm on facebook live over here, it's kind of funny that mark sukerbucks is only allowing 40 people on my facebook live. can you believe that? >> jimmy: yeah,ki b i can belie that. >> we're taking your cell phone. we have a warrant for your cell phone. i said no, my whole company. i run five companies off that. i don't have a computer. my hearing aids run off this. everything runs off my phone. i said, and then i said, if i don't give it to you, will you arrest me then? and they, i was just, are you

kidding me? you're not getting my phone. >> jimmy: and then he gave them the phone. and the phone they confiscated was this, this fisher-price model. he runs his company from. how funny is it, the guy who claims to have figured out ultra sophisticated plot to hack into and overturn our elections doesn't own a computer. he, running his business from his motorola razr phone. so donald trump issue a fearous statement on his pretend social media platform. breaking news, mike lindell the pillow guy was just raided by the fbi. he's raided. america is officially living in a weaponized police state. suddenly,'s against weaponized police states. listen, investigating potentially seditious acts against the democracy does not make it a police state. the 17-year-old arrested for

getting an abortion, that is a police state. but mike lindell, god bless him, he is so deep into this. he is not going to let legal trouble stop him from believing the stuff he believes in. today he doubled down and endorsed a new endorsement for another favorite candidate. >> hello, i'm mike lindell, ceo of my pillow and mr. january and minnesota's mustache of the month leader. america needs leaders who can fix our country. fat pete is a fellow i used to sell stolen appliances to to support my habit of ingesting crack cocaine, and let me tell you, he'll do so great at the treasury. he is so good with cash. he bust might nose with a wrench for trying to sell him a vcr

with a sandwich in. he broke four of my ribs with a pool cube, just because i gave his dog cooper half a snickers bar. how was i supposed to know cooper was allergic to chocolate. that's how i know fat pete is good at designating authority. i'm mike lindell, and i'm endorsing fat pete so he don't put knee the trunk with no wrench again. >> paid for with the stolen dishwasher mike changed from ex-brother-in-law. >> jimmy: i'd vote for a fat pete. mike lindell's favorite county clerk isn't the only bobble head representing the state of colorado. lauren boebert treated her friends to a reading from the version of the bible that was adapted for a decidedly-less-literate group of

worshippers. >> rampant, grabbing and back stabbing. they made life hell on earth with their envy, wonton killing. i don't know what a wanton killing is. >> jimmy: a wonton killing is what happens when donald trump goes to an all-you-can-eat buffet. we have a member of congress who needs help sounding out the menu at panda express. in more positive news. disney had the d-23 expo. all the stars show up to announce the big disney projects on the way. we sent a crew to have some fun with some of the actors there. we told them we were trying out an app, one of those which disney character are you apps. then we slipped in, you know the phrase "results may vary", these

definitely did. >> hi, i'm anthony mackie, and i'm about to find out which disney character i am. >> three, two, one. >> please let it be snow white. >> ooh, ooh, it's getting good. i see nemo. >> who's it going to be? >> these are going so quickly, i can't tell who is who. >> i hope i get bambi. >> that's a leg and a foot? and an ankle. i guess that's, i mean, i'm happy with that. >> please let it be snow white. come on. he's not a disney character. >> combe on, shake it. is this a joke?

i hate jimmy kimmel. >> i don't know what character this is, but it's goat nipples. >> oh, now it's stopped. i'm a band-aid. >> let's see. it's a crying baby. this is a pretty accurate depiction of who i am. >> yes, dentures in a glass. that's perfect for me. >> i am that one! i'm a hot dog! >> that's not a disney character at all. apparently, i'm carrot top. >> i am what you use to clean toilets. perfect. >> please, please, please, give me something good, please,

please, please. what the heck? why did i get a trash can? why did i get a trash can? what character is this in a disney movie? i want a redo. >> let me see. okay. oh, geez. what is this? [ bleep ] i don't, i mean, i drink oat milk. [ bleep ] what is this? >> so now i unstuck it. a shoe! it's a croc. i have crocs. okay. it knew i was a croc at heart. ooh. >> what app is this? i'm a foot. i'm a foot! >> seriously, this looks like beans and bacon. why can't i be mickey or something? >> vodka! this game really knows me.

had. >> mayonnaise. all right. >> he'i'll do it again. i'm hoping for snow white. let's see if i get her. okay. this game is over. >> get out of here. get out of here. ridiculous. i know who i am inside. >> jimmy: thanks to all our disney characters. we know who are you inside, too. [cheers and applause] >> how are you doing? hey, everybody! >> jimmy: how are you? you look great. you're a little bit early for your interview. it's after the commercial.

>> i know,. but i have a favor to ask, actually. you know how when you win an emmy you only have 45 seconds to do an acceptance speech which is like, nothing? and then sometimes you get even less time because some dumb comedy bit goes on too long? >> jimmy: you know, i have heard of that happening in previous year, yeah. >> right, right. >> jimmy: yeah. >> well, i was wondering if i could thank a couple extra people i didn't get to on monday night. >> jimmy: now? >> yes. >> jimmy: well, sure, go right ahead. i'll >> stand back here. >> thanks. thank you again to the academy for this amazing honor. i'd also like to thank randall einhorn, michelle nader, big andy, margie, erin werenberg and channing dungey, adam segal, persona pr. all the fans of the show.

the internet for raising me. and to all my "abbott elementary" writers watching, i wouldn't have this without you. now go to bed! we have work tomorrow. even though you're adults, and i have no jurisdiction over when you sleep. thank you. >> jimmy: you know, while you're here, would you like to throw to break? >> yes. >> jimmy: right there. >> we have a good show for you tonight, from "the lord of the rings," ismael cruz córdova; we've got music from kane brown, and we'll be right back with emmy award winner quinta brunson. [cheers and applause] ♪ ♪

>> lou: abc's "jimmy kimmel live" brought to you by allstate.

pst. girl. you can do better. at least with your big-name wireless carrier. with xfinity mobile you can get unlimited for $30 per month on the nation's most reliable 5g network. they can even save you hundreds a year on your wireless bill over t-mobile, at&t, and verizon. wow. i can do better! yes you can! i can do better, too! now you really can do better! switch to the fastest mobile service - xfinity mobile. now with the best price on two lines of unlimited. just $30 a line.

>> jimmy: hi there. welcome back to the show. tonight, from "the lord of the rings: the rings of power" on amazon prime video, ismael cruz córdova is with us. then later, he's headlining stagecoach with luke bryan and chris stapleton, he is here with us for a second night with songs from his album, a "different man," kane brown from the mercedes eq stage. tomorrow night, sam rockwell, and beto o'rourke, with music from death cab for cutie. so please join us for that. once upon a monday night, our first guest took home her first emmy award of many to come, for her rookie of the year effort "abbott elementary." season two premieres one week from tonight right here on abc. please welcome quinta brunson.

[cheers and applause] ♪ ♪ >> jimmy: how are you? >> good. >> jimmy: i feel like i just saw you. >> i know. >> jimmy: congratulations on you are emmy. >> thank you. [cheers and applause] >> jimmy: i missed it. how did it go? >> jimmy! >> jimmy: i do want to explain this for those who may be confused by this. what happened is, well, i have a video, and i'll show what happened. here's what happened. ♪ ♪ >> jimmy, wake up, i won!

jimmy. >> jimmy: now, that was a dumb comedy bit that we thought would be funny. i lost and then i drank too much and i will to be dragged out on the stage. and then people got upset. they said i stole your moment. sorry if i did do that.m very - i'm sorry i did do that, actually, and the last thing i would ever want to do is upset you because i think so much of you, and i think you know that. i hope you know that. >> i, do well, jimmy, let me just say thank you. it is very kind of you to say that. i honestly was in such a moment of have ago good time, like i won my first emmy. i was up there, like, you know, happy. and i was wrapped up in the moment and just having a good time. i don't know. i didn't see any of that. i saw, i saw you, and i saw will arnett and my emmy. >> and i was like, oh, my god, i'm having so much fun. and thank you, that's kind, but

honestly, i had a good night. i had great night. i had such a good night, it was a good night and a good time, and yeah. >> jimmy: i should also say it was really will arnett's thing the whole thing. he drugged me and dragged me out there. and i was unconscious. screw bo jackman and the horse he rode in on. i was so happy to see you win that emmy or not see you win that emmy, either way. i've been a fan of the show since before it came out. i was fortunate to see a pilot of the show. >> were you one of the first people to talk to me about the show before the show was out in the world. >> jimmy: that was your first time at the emmys and you won. >> yeah, crazy. >> jimmy: i've been at the emmys like 20 times and i've never, ever won. >> and i went one time and won. >> jimmy: which is like 100%.

>> that's wild. >> jimmy: so you, did you meet anybody you never met or sit with anybody exciting? >> i met everyone at the parties leading up to. because there's a bunch of parties that lead up to emmy night. there were people i met i was really excited about, ben stiller, a huge fan of his work. >> jimmy: he's the greatest. >> all of his stupid work. "night at the museum ii", "meet the fockers". i met brit from "severance". sitting right next to me was, i call, black people call them law and order. i don't know their names, but the lady of law. the man is order. >> jimmy: what? is that true?

law and order. >> i am saying black people. maybe it's just me. any black people can confirm? yeah. >> jimmy: so is krichristopher maloney law and mariska hargitay order? >> whichever way. >> jimmy: that's part of the big fun of the emmys is meeting everybody and hanging out with everybody and doing that thing where do i know this person or have i watched this person. >> exactly. exactly. >> jimmy: and then you went on to parties afterwards, i assume, yes? >> i went to disney party and had a good time there. >> jimmy: how long did you stay? >> only until 12:00. ly t

l i had to work the next day. >> jimmy: boy, is that bad planning? >> i'm upset at the producer of my show for making that the case, as the producer of the show, i think we should make them fall in line. >> jimmy: not only do you have this emmy now, but also this is something i drive by a lot and see it on the warner bros. studio. you have a huge, i don't think we can really tell from this photograph how big that photograph is, but it's big. >> if it helps, i'm really small and across the street, if it helps you understand. >> jimmy: it's beggar igger tha cars and the truck there. do you get excited when you come into work? >> i do, for me, it's a pinch-me moment to see that on the side. i love studio lots. >> jimmy: do you in. >> i do. i love them. it's magic. it's where the magic happens,

and you love your job again and you know why you fell in love with movies and tv. >> jimmy: which one is your favorite? >> sorry, warner bros., it's universal. >> jimmy: that's the one where jaws is. >> rides are great. the studio tour is fantastic. i love it. >> jimmy: did you take that tour like before you were famous? >> yeah, i used to take that tour a lot. >> jimmy: a lot? >> i used to go to universal studios once a month at minimum. >> jimmy: really? >> because i live here! and i have the pass. >> jimmy: really. >> i know that tour by heart to the point where if one gets something wrong, like the tour guide, i have almost been kicked off for correcting them. >> jimmy: is that true? >> i want everyone to have the best experience. and i want them to have a good time. >> jimmy: you think that's why you decided to play a teacher because of that commitment to education? maybe, maybe there's something

there. >> may be. but one time this woman, she is a tour guide, and jaws is a big deal. >> jimmy: yes. >> and she left out the part that the shark sunk when they first put it in the water. i think that's a big fact that people should know. so i kindly told the rest of my car that she omit thad. aomitted that. and at the end she was like hi, i know who you are, please don't do that. >> jimmy: when we come back we'll sho we'll show you a little bit of season two of "abbott elementary."

♪ ♪ fall vibes made easy. that's totally target. ♪ keep it comin' love ♪ ♪ keep it comin' love ♪ ♪ don't stop it now, don't stop it no ♪ ♪ don't stop it now, don't stop ♪

♪ keep it comin' ♪ it's back america. applebee's all you can eat boneless wings. just $12.99.

want a permanent solution to homelessness? applebee's all you can eat you won't get it with prop 27. it was written and funded by out-of-state corporations to permanently maximize profits, not homeless funding. 90% of the profits go to out-of-state corporations permanently. only pennies on the dollar for the homeless permanently. and with loopholes, the homeless get even less permanently. prop 27. they didn't write it for the homeless. they wrote it for themselves. have you seen my new phone yet?

it like, folds in half. i would never switch to samsung, i love my phone. what??? ♪♪ (...it folds in half.) you see i love my phone. i would never switch to samsuuu... (gasping) ♪♪

ah! oh, i am so sorry. i'm just so happy to be back. i did this. parted my hair on a different side. oh, yeah, but you asked how my summer was. well, i broke up with tyreek, which you know. breakups are hard for anyone. i took it as an opportunity to grow. not physically, of course, because i can't reach the top shelves in my apartment. tyreek used to get the plates.

>> jimmy: that is quinn quinnta brunson. i'm glad you broke up with that guy. do you hear from teachers all the time wanting to give you inside knowledge? >> yes, i hear stories non-stop. teachers have the funniest lives. things happen to them every day that are horrible, gross, unprecedented. if someone came up here and threw up on your rug, that would be crazy, but for their job, it's just another day. i hear those stories all the time. and, you know, take them as loose inspirations, and, but, really, we try to focus on what is going on with our teachers in our schools. >> jimmy: right. >> and i take them more as love from the teachers in the world. >> jimmy: yeah. yeah. it's hard to write and produce and star in your own show. >> yes, i'll never do this

again. >> jimmy: never again? >> never again. >> jimmy: so you won't do all three of those things. i'd assume you'd do something. >> i really enjoy, i enjoy all of the three. just not together. >> jimmy: right. >> i love to write. i love -- that's not true. producing, show running is, you know, i'm good at the creative parts. i have wonderful co-producers that help me. writing i love. acting is fantastic, but, you know, i'm tired. if i didn't have a hair and makeup and wardrobe team i'd really look decrepit right now. you have no idea. let's give it up for my glam. i'm so tired. >> jimmy: so when you, i know you're playing oprah in this weird ali biopic that's coming up. this is '80s era oprah.

>> you've heard it's great? >> jimmy: i've heard it's great. >> i was excited, because we got really, really good reviews. >> jimmy: yeah, it did. >> it's a super silly movie. i read the script. that's me. >> jimmy: did you get oprah's permission before playing her? >> i didn't, because i've played the comedy sat fire roles, i ju thought i had a pass. >> jimmy: but you don't want to get hit by a lightning bolt or something. did you talk to oprah? >> she's as whimsical as she seems. she came and she was gone. >> jimmy: she s's suddenly gone and not seen again. she was probably back at her house. >> yes, yes. >> jimmy: congratulations again. i'm sorry i was dumb. i've got news. it's going to happen again. >> probably.

>> jimmy: quinn at that brunson, everybody. watch her show. "abbott elementary." we'll be back with ismael cruz córdova. we used tech to become team amani. show what we can do. make connections. we've gone far. but someday— when anyone can be in any room and everyone can compete— we'll go much farther. everybody will. we make sit-down chicken... ...stand-up chicken... backyard chicken... ...oops chicken... ...lots-a-time chicken... ...no-time chicken. if there's one thing we know, it's chicken, chicken and chicken. more choices. more wow. more to love. tyson. only on prime video. the chargers. the chiefs.

let's go! an afc showdown between two of the most electric offenses in the game. play for this stadium! play for everybody! herbert. mahomes. boy, i tell ya, this is nuts! deep downfield... and look at that! got it. touchdown! l.a. k.c. the whole world watching! thursday night football. only on prime video. the chef's chicken sandwiches at panera, freshly prepared with clean ingredients... spark an explosion of the senses. so when you finally taste it, it just confirms... this. is. fantastic. and only at panera. $0 delivery fee for a limited time. this just in! a giant robot has landed downtown. ♪ heroic music ♪ ♪ hey, craig... hey, guys... this is just my workout stuff. we know you're the green hawk. everyone knows. [laughs] what? that's bananas. you're still wearing your mask, dude. if you have a secret identity, you need to keep it secret. and if you want to save by bundling home and car insurance, you need geico.

i'm not the green hawk. [knock knock] delivery for the green hawk? see how much you could save by bundling with geico. - green... - i will bring it to him. ♪♪ whenever heartburn strikes get fast relief with tums. it's time to love food back. ♪ tum tum tum tum tums ♪ if you shop at walmart, you know that with thousands of new rollbacks, you can spend even less, to get even more, to make life even better.

meet my boyfriend, jake. what's up, everyone. what is all over your... feet?! they're flowers. i study botany. resting dad face back there likes plants too. grab some pruners. let's prune. ♪♪ ♪yabba-dabba-doo♪ ♪flintstones, meet the flintstones♪ ♪they're the modern stone age family♪ ♪from the town of bedrock♪ ♪they're a page right out of history♪ ♪let's ride with the family down the street♪ ♪through the courtesy of fred's two feet♪ ♪when you're with the flintstones♪ ♪have a yabba-dabba-doo time♪ ♪a dabba-doo time we'll have a gay old time♪ (vo) red lobster's finer points of fun dining when mouth is full, and shrimp is endless, the "booth bow" is the proper way to say "shrimp me!"

ultimate endless shrimp is back, now with argentine red shrimp. welcome to fun dining.

the choice between prop 26 and 27? let's get real. prop, 26 means no money to fix homelessness, no enforcement oversight and no support for disadvantaged tribes. yikes! prop 27 generates hundreds of millions towards priorities like new housing units in all 58 counties. 27 supports non-gaming tribes and includes strict audits that ensure funds go directly to people off the streets and into there's only one choice. yes on 27. >> jimmy: welcome back. ismael cruz córdova and kane brown are coming up, but first guillermo has a very spicy new something he wants very much to tell you about. >> guillermo: welcome to fuego!

the show where people think eating regular cinnamon teach crunch when it's really cinna fuego. can they handle the flavor. let's find out. do you like cinnamon toast crunch? >> i love cinnamon toast crunch. >> hot, hot, hot. >> it's different but good different. >> look hmm. >> it's a little spicy. something new in there? what is it? >> it's the new cinna fuego crunch. >> it's a little spicy. but it's good. >> you've been fuegoed. >> what kind of prank is this? >> an epic one. >> get it for a limited time at cinnamon toast crunch.com or a retailer near you. you know real chili never has beans. you know which pizza is eaten with a fork and a knife...

and which one is definitely not. you know a cappuccino is for the morning and an espresso is for the afternoon. you know how to answer "sparking or still" in over 12 different languages. you'll try anything that's not currently alive... unless of course it's highly recommended. the delta skymiles® american express card. if you travel, you know. got our favorites, chicken mcnuggets. let me guess, a big mac? what's that? where's my mcnugget, dad? what mcnugget? i can literally see it! buy one favorite like 10 piece mcnuggets and get another for just a buck right now at mcdonald's. kenan! and get another for just a buck hey kenan! looking good. feeling good. i just found all these cars on autotrader. wow! now wait for the best part there microwave. a dealer is gonna deliver this car to our home. never leave home, never leave home! woo, it's here! there's one thing... i can't do from home. drive! someone stop him! kenan!

catch ya later, refrigerator! i'm lindsey vonn, and ever since i retired from skiing, i've had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. you know, insomnia. before i found quviviq, an fda-approved insomnia medication for adults. you would not believe the things i used to think about when i couldn't sleep. hey, linds. i need you to sign this business contract. all 114 pages. lindsey, lindsey!! hey, lindsey! it's workout time. hey, big man, we're in the middle of something here. yeah, it's called physical fitness. just a couple dozen more questions, lindsey. don't forget to pack your phone charger for tomorrow morning's flight. it's plugged in right over there. insomnia can impact both my days and my nights. that's why i take quviviq nightly. quviviq can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, and more sleep at night may mean feeling less tired during the day. quviviq works differently than medication you may have taken in the past. quviviq is thought to target one of the biological causes of insomnia.

overactive wake signals. do not take quviviq if you have narcolepsy. don't drink alcohol while taking quviviq or drive or operate heavy machinery until you feel fully alert. quviviq may cause temporary inability to move or talk or hallucinations while falling asleep or waking up. quviviq may cause sleepiness during the day. quviviq may lead to doing activities while not fully awake that you don't remember the next day, like walking, driving and making or eating food. worsening depression including suicidal thoughts may occur. the most common side effects are headaches and sleepiness. it's quviviq. ask your doctor if it's right for you. ♪ ♪ fall faves made easy. that's totally target. ( ♪♪ ) is someone trying to steal your butterfinger this halloween? (snarl) call the bfi.

( ♪♪ ) no one lays a finger on your butterfinger. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪i like to vöost it, vöost it♪ ♪my vitamins can boost it♪ ♪i like to vöost it, vöost it♪ ♪we like to vöost it♪ vöost effizzing, amazing vitamin boosts. ♪vöost it♪

♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] >> jimmy: music from kane brown is on the way. our next guest grew up in the mountains of puerto rico. spent some time on "sesame street," and now dwells among

the elves of middle earth in the new amazon prime video series "the lord of the rings: the rings of power." >> keep going! ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> jimmy: new episodes of "the lord of the rings" come out fridays please, welcome ismael cruz córdova. ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] ♪ ♪ >> jimmy: we met at the emmys on monday night. you were nice enough to come up and say hello, i'm going to be

on the show this week. >> yes, we did, yes, we did. it took me about half of the show and staring at you awkwardly, you didn't see me, for the entire time to muster the courage. >> jimmy: really? wow, i'm flattered. this very handsome young man walks up and says hello. did you meet oprah? >> when she came in, it was just like a wave. and her mask was kind of awkwardly huge. but we all knew it was her. i was telling my friend. i was getting coy, i was getting nervous, and i said i think i just realized my celebrity crush was oprah. >> jimmy: some people are like, should we stand up? oh, oprah's here, get up, everybody. >> i stood up, i was like blushing, i don't blush, but i stood up, truth, i was feeling all like fwidy and excited. i had one of those moments.

not moment, but the moment, i'm here. >> jimmy: we got a great picture of you and oprah together. there you r >> i mean. >> jimmy: right there. >> look at me. look at me. i was also, every time i was sitting right there, every time a guest would come in, i was like tilting to get into shot. >> jimmy: we were learning about you today, and i mentioned you grew up in the mountains of puerto rico. you have an amazing, an inspiring life story. it's really incredible. you take us through it briefly? >> well, i grew up in the mountains of puerto rico in the central range of mountains, a very poor town, circumstances back then. rural. i grew up in houses with dirt floors. we had a lot of electricity rationing. three times a week we didn't have electricity. i did a lot of homework by

cana cana candlelight. >> jimmy: like benjamin franklin or something. >> not with a quill, but my family is highly literal. one of the first people that could read and write. i remember reading the newspaper to my aunt and grandma. that started my fire for wanting to start this career, actually. i didn't know what i was going to do. i just knew that i wanted to bring these people with me, however i could. and bring voice to us. because there's a thing when you're poor that people feel that you need to just like be tough to wait and not participate, and i was like, hell no. [cheers and applause] >> jimmy: you worked hard. you get a scholarship to go to nyu. you move to new york city. and you wind up on "sesame street." >> yes, i did. >> jimmy: which is pretty crazy.

in fact, i think i have a photograph of you and elmo and rosita here. >> look at that. >> jimmy: and even at this time you were living, you didn't have a place. >> no. >> jimmy: you were. >> i was homeless. i was couch surfing, from couch to couch. sometimes i slept in trains or benches or the park. it all depended, because like if i had a couch and randomly somebody was going to come in, my friends were like, sorry, i need to use it. but i did develop this tactic that i would hit the friends that were the furthest up, late at night. so i'm going to have to stay over. >> jimmy: it's funny, but i bet it wasn't very funny then. it was very, very stressful. >> it was stressful tan was ab it was about five years of that. >> i never had a plan b.

i'm going to go and do the thing that i'm doing. it never felt like too much because i was very connected with my mission, so i did what i had to do. >> jimmy: even to the point where it feels like you willed this lord of the rings job. you had a dvd player you bought for your family and one of the few dvds you had was "lord of the rings". how many times did you audition? >> it was like six or seven months worth of auditioning. i cannot tell you how many times i didaudition. i got shipped out to south africa to the desert. and i got my first rejection, and i was like, again, i was like, nope. i told my managers, they sent it, they gave me another opportunity. by that point, i'm putting my tape together. everybody's excited. my makeup artists are huge tolkien fans. they do my makeup, set me up

with lights. i was living in a tent. i shoot it in my tent, very little wi-fi. only in this kitchen and the top of the hill. almost like dialup, you know. put the phone there, plug it in. sleep in the kitchen. eight hours later i wake up in the morning to "up load failed." >> jimmy: wow. >> i give the phone to my driver that was there. he drives two hours to the next village where there's like wi-fi. he plug it is in. sends it. gets to the producers, and i got my response, and it was nope again. >> jimmy: oh, no, wow. >> by that time, i'm freakin' out. i really want this role. i really believe that this role is for me. i tell my team, listen. i know somebody in barcelona. i speak spanish. if he meets me, i know he's going to give it to me.

let's redirect my flight, i'll show up at his office, we'll have coffee. they're like, relax, don't be creepy, and don't get arrested. by that point the producers sent an e-mail, listen, it's great, but it's not going his way. i made my way to new york. my manager calls, and he said, actually, they want to you go to new zealand in two days. i was like, what do these people want, my man! what do they want from me. >> jimmy: wow. >> i make my way to new zealand, and i really, i truly believe that when i got there and people felt my essence, because there is a warrior led by love. and i really felt if they met me they would know. so i got there. i was kind of like, you know, playing it cool, but i did throw in that energy, and once i did my aau audition, everything tur.

there's a moment everybody's responding to, where i touch a tree and pray over it and ask for forgiveness. that was something i did in my improvisation and it made it to the show. >> jimmy: wow, wow, what a great story. i am very happy for you. >> thank you. >> jimmy: and does elmo know about all this? >> elmo's up. made it my guy. >> jimmy: it was great to meet you. congratulations. it's a big deal. new episodes of the lord of the rings, the rings of power. available fridays on amazon prime video. we'll be right back with music from kane brown. ♪ ♪ >> announcer: the "jimmy kimmel live" concert series is presented by mercedes e-q. the best or nothing.

>> announcer: the "jimmy kimmel live" concert series is presented by mercedes e-q. all electric, all mercedes. >> jimmy: i want to thank quinta brunson and ismael cruz córdova. apologies to matt damon. we ran out of time for him. tomorrow night, sam rockwell and beto o'rourke with music from death cab for cutie. "nightline" is next, but first his album is called "different man," here with the song, "grand," kane brown!

♪ i had thoughts of superstardom singin in the mirror i was flossin swear that i saw this ♪ ♪ remember when i couldn't stand it now i got the posture finally threw a ♪ ♪ pair of dice call me frankie scoblete all just to see your hands ♪ ♪ jumpin at the concert yeah and i wouldn't trade it for nothin ♪ ♪ no i wouldn't change it ever it's too long to live it for nothin ♪ ♪ so this is my mood forever ain't life grand ♪ ♪ only ones i keep around me is my fam no coincidence it's always ♪ ♪ been the plan and i always keep it trilly with the fans oh ain't life grand ♪ ♪ and i love a little whiskey in my hand make it disappear ♪ ♪ then reappear again matter fact i never want this life to end ♪ ♪ until the end yeah the voices in my head they used to make me ♪ ♪ wanna break down had me hella weighed down had me in a corner ♪ ♪ had me beat but i'm okay now

true to what they say ♪ ♪ if there's a will then there's a way out took all of my dreams i took em back cause ♪ ♪ i'm awake now yeah and i wouldn't trade it for nothin ♪ ♪ no i wouldn't change it ever it's too long to live it for nothin ♪ ♪ so this is my mood forever ain't life grand ♪ ♪ only ones i keep around me is my fam no coincidence it's always been the plan ♪ ♪ been the plan and i always keep it trilly with the fans ♪ ♪ oh ain't life grand and i love a little whiskey in my hand ♪ ♪ make it disappear then reappear again matter fact i never want this life ♪ ♪ to end until the end i saw it all i saw it in my head yeah ♪ ♪ i saw it all i saw it in my head yeah i saw it all ♪ ♪ i saw it in my head yeah ain't life grand hey and i wouldn't trade ♪ ♪ it for nothin' no

i wouldn't change it ever it's too long to live ♪ ♪ it for nothin' so this is my mood forever ain't life grand ♪ ♪ only ones i keep around me is my fam no coincidence it's always ♪ ♪ been the plan and i always keep it trilly with the fans oh ain't ♪ ♪ life grand and i love a little whiskey in my hand i sip it down so i ♪ ♪ can fill it up again matter fact i never want this life to end ♪ ♪ until the end yeah i saw it all i saw it in my head yeah ♪ ♪ i saw it all i saw it in my head yeah i saw it all ♪ ♪ i saw it in my head yeah ain't life grand hey i saw it all i saw it in my head yeah ♪ ♪ i saw it all i saw it in my head yeah i saw it all ♪ ♪ i saw it in my head yeah ain't life grand ♪

this is "nightline." tonight, when workers revolt. from the frontline of the pandemic to the picket line.p15 job. the largest strike of its kind ever. >> that's what we're seeing. nurses who are burned out, who don't have employers who are supporting them and are leaving care. >> with demands that go far beyond money. >> we do need a say in what staffing looks like. >> nurses, teachers, train conductors. why american labor is pushing back. >> this country has had a love affair with free and cheap labor for a long, long time. >> and