Jimmy Kimmel pranks Justin Theroux with The Leftovers Emmy campaign
By Hector Cruz
Jimmy Kimmel teamed with Jennifer Aniston to prank Justin Theroux by using his car to campaign for an Emmy nomination for “The Leftovers.”
Justin Theroux and The Leftovers have been criminally overlooked by the Emmys for the show’s first two seasons, but Jimmy Kimmel is looking to change that by utilizing the actor’s car to campaign for an Emmy nomination for the HBO series’ current third and final season.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live Tuesday night, the late-night host unveiled his latest prank involving Theroux’s black Mercedes that he gained access to thanks to a fake recall notice and some help from his wife, Jennifer Aniston, while the actor was in Texas for a bachelor party.
“There was nothing wrong with the car,” Kimmel admitted. “While you were gone, we got the keys to your car. It was not being repaired. There’s nothing wrong with the drive shaft. What we did was—because I feel like HBO could be doing a better job of promoting this for you—we had some experts adorn your car in a way that I think is going to bring you a lot of attention.”
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The camera then panned out to Hollywood Blvd. in front of the studio to reveal the car painted with various revealing shots of Theroux, along with several Emmy slogans. One side featured a picture of Theroux slithering out of a bathtub in a scene from The Leftovers season 2 episode “International Assassin” and the phrase, “For Your Theroux Consideration.”
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 16: View of Justin Theroux’s car at ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ on May 16, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by RB/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
The other side includes a photograph of Theroux from a magazine spread next to the pun, “Justin Time For the Emmy Nominations,” while the hood featured a shirtless paparazzi shot of the actor surrounded by the words, “I’d Eat These Leftovers,” and an Emmy statue as a hood ornament. Lastly, the car’s trunk featured the following suggestion: “This Emmys, Vote Justin Theroux.”
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 16: View of Justin Theroux’s car at ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ on May 16, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by RB/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Watch the entire clip below:
Luckily, Theroux took the prank in stride, later posting a photograph of himself posing alongside his car on his Instagram account along with the caption, “Never give @jimmykimmel the keys to your car.”
Next: The Leftovers season 3, episode 5 recap: ‘It’s a Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt World’
Before the unveiling, Kimmel had high praise for The Leftovers, rightly pointing out that it’s gotten better every season. “I would say the first season of the show was a good show. The second season, it became a great show. And now in the third season, it’s an unbelievably great show,” he said.
The HBO drama will have its last opportunity to earn its first Emmy nod(s) when nominations are announced on July 13, with voting beginning a month earlier. The ceremony hosted by Stephen Colbert will air live on CBS on September 17.
The Leftovers season 3 continues Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.