The embattled Toronto Mayor claims he's visiting 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' to promote Toronto's film industry, but some of his colleagues think it would be another embarrassment for the city.
- Mar 4, 2014
AceShowbiz - Rob Ford's scheduled appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" has drawn the ire of Toronto councillors. Some of the embattled Toronto Mayor's colleagues fear that his trip to Los Angeles will only further ridicule the city following his admission that he smoked crack.
Councillor Doug Ford, who is running his brother's mayoral re-election campaign, tells The Globe and Mail that his brother's appearance is to promote Toronto's film industry. He claims that he and his brother are "promoting Toronto like no one's promoted Toronto before."
However, Ford's colleagues think that his appearance will end up being another mockery for the city. Councillor Jaye Robinson says, "I think Torontonians are feeling a bit mocked. We feel like they're mocking the mayor, and then the reflection in turn is they're mocking the City of Toronto. I don't think people feel great about it."
Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, who is considering running for mayor, also doubts the show's intention to invite Ford. "That's not why he was asked onto the show. It was to focus in and highlight many of the mayor's problems, faults," he says.
Councillor Paula Fletcher additionally questions Ford's real goal with the TV appearance, arguing, "If he was truly on a trip to bring films to the City of Toronto, there are staff and professionals that would accompany him to make him successful. But just stumbling around L.A. with your family and your staff is not a plan to bring films to Toronto."
Jimmy Kimmel announced Ford's scheduled appearance on Sunday night, March 2 on his 9th annual "After the Oscars" special during which the Toronto Mayor showed up a day early because he "got confused about what day he was on the show." Ford, who is accompanied by his two brothers and several staffers during his trip to L.A., made a surprise visit to the City Hall on Monday, before his "JKL" appearance which is slated to air later that night on ABC.
Kimmel recently enjoyed a ratings surge with his post-Oscar show, which drew 7 million viewers (up 22 percent from last year). The most recent "After the Oscars" special featured four faux movie trailers starring Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Chris Hemsworth, Liam Hemsworth, Queen Latifah, Christoph Waltz, Kevin Spacey, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones among others.
He also filmed a funny bit with Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi, paying a surprise visit to their house following DeGeneres' Oscar-hosting gig.
Rob Ford Shows Up Early to "Jimmy Kimmel Live!":
Jimmy Kimmel Surprises Ellen and Portia After the Oscars:
