Jimmy Kimmel pits Toronto Mayor Rob Ford against L.A.’s Eric Garcetti
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford appeared on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show Monday to promote his hometown, but ended up getting stacked up against Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Ford -- who gained international fame last year after media reports of public drunkenness and his admission to smoking crack cocaine -- had paid a visit to L.A. City Hall earlier Monday, but Garcetti, in Mexico on a business trip, was nowhere to be found.
Ford told reporters that he makes it a point to visit the city halls of places he visits to “pop in and say hi.”
Despite the Toronto City Council stripping him of official powers, Ford has refused to step down and announced in January that he would seek reelection in the fall.
On the set of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” the talk show host made it a point to highlight the striking contrast between the two mayors, introducing Ford as someone who has “tripped, bumped, danced, argued and smoked his way into our national consciousness,” Kimmel said.
Kimmel then launched into a tongue-in-cheek segment of compare-and-contrast, hoping Garcetti might adopt more of the bombastic flair of his Toronto counterpart.
“This is Eric Garcetti meeting some supporters, picnic of some kind,” Kimmel said, holding a photo of Garcetti wearing a crisp blue shirt and tie under red apron as he leans over a table to give a formal handshake to a man.
Cut to a photo of Ford dancing with two women wearing feathered headdresses.
“There’s you with your supporters,” Kimmel said.
Next up, “Here’s Eric Garcetti holding someone’s baby,” Kimmel said, holding a photo of a baby resting peacefully on the chest of a smiling Garcetti.
Cut to a photo of Ford holding a baby crying hysterically.
“Here’s Rob Ford holding someone’s baby,” Kimmel said.
The photo comparisons continued -- Garcetti at a Dodgers game high-fiving another fan vs. Ford in the stands with a chicken wing stuffed in his mouth -- with Kimmel feigning disgust with the L.A. mayor’s behavior.
“Can you talk to him?” Kimmel asked Ford. “Because it’s enough already.”
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