Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 64th Annual Primetime...

Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles. (Sept. 23, 2012) Credit: Getty Images

"Jimmy Kimmel Live" (weeknights at midnight on ABC) will originate from the Brooklyn Academy of Music this week, begging not just one but a few questions. I spoke last week with Kimmel -- who, little-known fact, says he helped his cousin Sal deliver Newsday in East Northport during family visits from the West. Guests this week include David Letterman, Kelly Ripa, Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Chris Rock and Alicia Keys. This is "JKL's" first trip to New York, and it coincides with the opening of the Barclays Center.

You don't take the show on the road much. Why not?

We've traveled once before, to Detroit, a few years in, but this is our first trip here. It's very expensive to do the show out of town, so that's a hindrance. Detroit? That was our penance .

Will you insult Brooklyn?

Probably. Probably. I never intend to, but it just happens -- though it'll probably just be a member of my family. I could fill the whole theater with my family .

So will Matt Damon be on this week's show? [An old joke: Kimmel used to close the show with, "Our apologies to Matt Damon, but we've run out of time."]

He'll be on the schedule. Either he will or he won't.

Getting Letterman's quite a coup -- considering he never does this, even though you are a longtime fan. Is this Dave's payback for your appearances on his show?

["Late Show"] gave me a video and it turns out I've been on eight times. I was supposed to be on nine but got bumped once. It's always nerve-wracking for me to be on his show, because I love Dave. But having him on my show is far more intimidating.

Which night is he on?

Halloween. Hopefully it'll be Dave but not someone dressed like Dave -- a cool and elaborate prank played on me. I haven't figured out what we're going to talk about and won't know until about 12 minutes before. . . . We've never socialized, but I'd say I'm an admirer, and to him, I'm probably a nuisance.

Would you ever move your show to New York full time?

I wouldn't be against it if they suggested that, but it would seem very unlikely; it's a lot easier to get guests. I also think I'd weigh 380 pounds if I lived in New York full time. Too many good things to eat, and I can't be tempted.

Any changes to "JKL" when you move to 11:35 in January, changing time slots with "Nightline"?

We haven't a plan where ABC has said you have to change to be this or that, [and] I'm glad we haven't because that never turns out well. For me, I just try to be funny every night and try not to get too scientific or calculating or pay attention to research or to people who couldn't make you laugh even if you were tied down and they were tickling you with a feather. I go with the philosophy that if the people I think are funny think what I'm doing is funny, then that's fine.

You did a good job with the Emmys. Ever want to host the Oscars?

Yeah, of course, it's something I'd love to do, but be careful what you wish for because then you'd have to do it.

By the way, who's going to burn the dancing shoes on Tuesday?

I didn't even think about that. I guess we can live without it for one week.

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