Jimmy Kimmel’s Kimmelot and Brent Montgomery’s Wheelhouse have parted ways after six years of business partnership between the late-night host’s production banner and the producer’s startup media and investment venture.
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The shift for Kimmelot and Wheelhouse has been in the works for months. Kimmelot’s exit from operating under the Wheelhouse umbrella was anticipated when Wheelhouse did its first round of outside funding earlier this year from Jeff Bewkes’ firm Alignment Growth. It’s understood that Kimmel decided it was time for the company to transition out of Wheelhouse, where Kimmelot was founded in 2018, to a fully independent status. The partners cast the move as amicable and noted that both companies will remain in business together on existing projects.
“When Wheelhouse took the equity investment from Alignment Growth, we made the decision to consolidate equity ownership,” Wheelhouse and Kimmalot said in a joint statement. “Jimmy transitioned from an equity partner to a commercial partner. While we no longer have ownership stakes in each other’s companies, Kimmelot and Wheelhouse continue to share resources and partner on a variety of individual projects.”
Scott Lonker, president of Kimmelot, will continue to play an executive role at Wheelhouse, where he serves as chief creative officer.
Among the TV projects Kimmelot has fielded to date have been the ABC comedy specials dubbed “Live in Front of a Studio Audience,” featuring live remakes with contemporary stars of classic episodes of Norman Lear-produced sitcoms as “All in the Family” and “Good Times.” The 2020 edition won the Emmy for outstanding variety show. The franchise proved to a be a final bow for Lear, the legendary producer who died in December 2023 at age 101.
Kimmelot also produces the primetime quiz show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” for ABC. In April, the company launched the Hulu reality series “High Hopes,” following a pair of brothers from Belarus as they try to launch a cannabis business in Hollywood.
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Kimmel was the first boldface name that Montgomery recruited to work under the Wheelhouse umbrella which is designed to provide investment and creative support to help producers nurture their own projects and imprints.
Montgomery, former head of ITV America and a veteran unscripted producer, launched Wheelhouse in January 2018. He made his mark as creator of History Channel’s enduring “Pawn Stars” series. Montgomery sold his Leftfield Entertainment to ITV for a whopping $350 million in 2014.
At present other Wheelhouse-produced series include Netflix’s “King of Collectibles” from executive producer Peyton Manning, “Buying Beverly Hills” and “Players,” Hulu’s “Secret Chef” with Chang, “WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn,” and the upcoming “Got to Get Out”; Max’s “Smartless: On the Road”; and Roku’s “Celebrity Family Cookoff” with Sofia Vergara.
(Pictured: Brent Montgomery and Jimmy Kimmel)
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