Jimmy Kimmel scored a new gig as the bass clarinet player in a band alongside Conan O’Brien and Jon Stewart‘s band the Very White Stripes at the 2026 Netflix Is a Joke Fest. The late-night hosts were joined by Love on the Spectrum star Abbey Romeo for a performance of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” at the Hollywood Bowl last night. O’Brien and Stewart also played “We’re Going to Be Friends.”
Jimmy Kimmel plays the saxophone during performance with Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart and ‘Love on the Spectrum’ star Abbey Lutes at Netflix is a Joke Fest pic.twitter.com/ksCijlhP8F
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 8, 2026
Kimmel fell into playing the clarinet after he mistook the instrument for a trombone, just as some online have mistaken it for a saxophone during the Netflix Is a Joke festival performance. “I signed up for clarinet class, and I got to the class, and some kids had their instruments. I told the band teacher, ‘I’m in the wrong class. I’m supposed to be in the clarinet class,'” Kimmel told Rolling Stone last year. After some back and forth with the teacher, who offered to change his schedule, Kimmel gave in.
“I went home and my mom had bought me a clarinet, and my parents never bought anything. And I didn’t know you could return things,” he said. “So I felt too guilty to say, ‘No, I wanted to play the trombone.’ So I just said, ‘I won’t change the schedule, and I’ll play the clarinet.’ And here we are.”
Hosted by Stewart, the Night of Too Many Stars packed in appearances from dozens of comedians. Bill Burr, Steve Carell, Ron Funches, Nikki Glaser, Tiffany Haddish, Leanne Morgan, John Mulaney, Kevin Nealon, Bob Odenkirk, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, Ali Wong, Noah Wyle, and more appeared on the lineup for the May 7 event.
Conan O'Brien and Jon Stewart (on drums) perform "We're Going to Be Friends" as "The Very White Stripes" during #NetflixIsAJoke pic.twitter.com/jhWhfe98Dg
— Variety (@Variety) May 8, 2026
The Night of Too Many Stars benefits nationwide autism programs. Romeo has appeared on each season of Love on the Spectrum in addition to expanding her creative portfolio with a hat business and original music. Two years ago, Romeo and her family celebrated her evolution as a performer after overcoming previous struggles.
“It’s hard to believe the journey sometimes. Abbey was in an autism school since she was 8 years old. That first clip is Abbey at age 14, in an Autism arts program with aids and helpers throughout. She had such a hard time focusing and paying attention as she was always in her own world,” a pinned post on Romeo’s Instagram account reads. “Musical and performance arts really helped Abbey connect and build confidence. She has worked so hard to get where she is today. None of this was easy for her, but she never gave up. Just seeing her on stage today brings tears to our eyes thinking about the journey and what she has overcome to get here.”
Netflix Is a Joke Fest kicked off on May 4 and extends through May 10. The festival includes more than 475 shows across more than 45 venues with appearances from hundreds of performers.
Albini and Whinna in an undated Polaroid snapshotCourtesy of Heather Whinna
2nd grade Courtesy of the Albini Family
7th grade Courtesy of the Albini Family
11th grade Courtesy of the Albini Family
Big Black in 1986Gail Butensky
Albini built Electrical Audio to embody his recording philosophy in a physical space.© Monfourny Renaud/DAPR/ZUMA
Albini got seriously into poker in his later years, as seen in this photo from the 2008 All Tomorrow’s Parties festival.Roger Kisby/Getty Images
Albini and Whinna founded the Letters to Santa charity in 1996.Courtesy of Heather Whinna
Whinna (center), Kim Deal (right), and Electrical Audio staff unveil the Steve Albini Way street sign in November 2024.Althea Legaspi
Althea Legaspi
Althea Legaspi
