Kendall Schmidt Fills In for Matt Damon on Kimmel
Boy band leader takes the iconic host’s seat for a stunt, hyping tonight’s prime ABC show!
Image: Instagram
The Gag Continues
Jimmy Kimmel Live’s long-running running joke of “Matt Damon is out” got a fresh twist this week when actor-singer Kendall Schmidt slid into Damon’s usual guest seat. In a cheeky Instagram post, Schmidt teased fans with the caption, “Matt Damon couldn’t make it, so we subbed in for him on @jimmykimmellive
Tune into #Kimmel TONIGHT!
@JimmyKimmel #ABC.” Three behind-the-scenes photos show Schmidt suited up at the iconic host’s desk, grinning and holding the show’s cue cards as cameras rolled—photographer credit to ABC/Randy Holmes.
Kendall Schmidt’s Late-night Debut
Stepping out of the boy band spotlight and into late-night television, Schmidt made a playful detour from his usual routine. Best known as one-quarter of Big Time Rush and one of the stars of the Nickelodeon series of the same name (2009–2013), the Kansas-born performer has since continued acting and recording. Viewers tuning in tonight on ABC will see him banter with Jimmy Kimmel, riffing on audience questions and delivering punchlines in the slot otherwise reserved for Damon.
Schmidt’s Instagram snapshots capture the energy of rehearsal and live taping. In the first image, he perches confidently behind the desk, shaking hands with unseen crew members. The second shows him mid-riff, gesturing toward the studio audience, while the third finds him flashing an enthusiastic thumbs-up under bright stage lights. Fans can catch the full moment on tonight’s show.
From Boy Band To Talk Show
After Big Time Rush wrapped its series finale in 2013, Schmidt and his bandmates kept the music going with reunion tours, most recently announcing their In Real Life Worldwide tour. In February, the group shared on Instagram that “All US & Europe tickets for our In Real Life Worldwide tour are now on sale!” with special guests Katelyn Tarver and Stephen Kramer Glickman joining the lineup. While on the road, Schmidt has continued honing his acting chops, appearing in independent projects and hosting online content for his growing social media following.
His guest-host turn on Jimmy Kimmel Live marks another milestone in a career that’s spanned scripted television, feature films and sold-out concerts. It also nods to ABC’s tradition of inviting unexpected substitutes whenever Matt Damon is “out,” a bit that’s featured everyone from Danny DeVito to Samuel L. Jackson in past seasons.
Fans have already flooded social feeds with praise for Schmidt’s ease behind the desk. One viewer tweeted, “Never thought I’d see the day a boy band star walks into Damon’s spot—but Kendall slayed it!” Another posted a clip of the rehearsal, noting his quick wit and seamless timing alongside Kimmel.
With this stunt, Schmidt cements his versatility—proving he can command a concert stage, deliver scripted lines on camera and, now, keep a late-night audience laughing in place of Hollywood royalty.
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