'Millionaire' Caller Gushes Over Kimmel Then Fails to Answer Question

Alex Christy
August 11th, 2026 12:24 PM

ABC's Jimmy Kimmel may be taking the summer off from hosting his late night comedy show, but he still finds time to host Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. On the August 5 episode, Kimmel welcomed The Daily Show rotating host Michael Kosta and actress Wendi McLendon-Covey to the show to try to win for their charities. However, not even Millionaire is free from the politics of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

At the $250,000 question, Kosta used the duo's phone a friend lifeline to call up a friend, who used the opportunity to gush over Kimmel's supposed defense of the First Amendment. The friend then proceeded to not answer the question.

The friend was Aaron Stark, who had previously appeared on Kosta's podcast to bash President Trump. Before Kosta could read the question, he sang Kimmel's praises, "Ah. No way. Jimmy. Hey, uh, real quick, thanks for defending the First Amendment. What you did and how you handled the response, it was really important for America."

Kimmel replied, "Oh, well, thank you. I appreciate you saying that" as Kosta and McLendon-Covey led the audience in joining in the applause.

 

 

Eventually, Kimmel got back to the game and turned things over to Kosta, who had 30 seconds to try to get an answer out of Stark. Kosta read the unusual question, "According to his authorized biography, Steve Jobs would sometimes do what with toilet bowl water at Apple's offices? Soak his feet, ferment kombucha, wash his armpits, fill water pistols to spray at employees."

After Kosta informed Stark that he had only 13 seconds remaining, Stark remained silent for another six seconds before asking Kosta to read the answers again. Kosta then sped read the answers a second time, but time expired before Stark could answer.

Kosta and McLendon-Covey then debated whether to walk away or take a shot. McLendon-Covey eventually won the argument, and the duo incorrectly guessed the answer was water pistols. The correct answer was soak his feet, and the duo dropped to $32,000. While Kosta kicked himself for not knowing the answer despite reading the book, his performance was certainly better than Wolf Blitzer on Jeopardy!. However, his friend's hot take was not.

Kimmel's history of "defending the First Amendment" actually consists of him saying dumb and outrageous things about conservatives reacting to people trying to claim Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin is actually a right-winger and then getting himself suspended because he didn't think he did anything wrong or about First Lady Melania Trump wishing President Trump was dead and then getting criticized for it.

Here is a transcript for the August 5 show:

 

ABC Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

8/5/2026

9:56 PM ET

MICHAEL KOSTA: I would like to call my friend.

WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY: Let's call your friend.

KOSTA: Should we call our friend? 

MCLENDON-COVEY: Let's call your friend. Yeah.

KOSTA: We would like to call my friend Aaron, a Marine.

KIMMEL: He's a lawyer?

KOSTA: Yeah.

KIMMEL: He's a reader.

KOSTA: He's a reader.

KIMMEL: Aaron Stark. Let's get him on the line.

AARON STARK: Hey.

KIMMEL: Hey, Aaron. It's Jimmy Kimmel from Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

STARK: Ah. No way. Jimmy. Hey, uh, real quick, thanks for defending the First Amendment. What you did and how you handled the response, it was really important for America.

KIMMEL: Oh, well, thank you. I appreciate you saying that.

KOSTA: I did not—I did not make him do that.

KIMMEL: Well, I wish we could end with that, but we have an important question that Michael and Wendi need help with, okay? They're going for $250,000 for a couple of great charities, so hopefully you can help with this. And thank you for your service, by the way.

STARK: Oorah.

KIMMEL: I want you to listen very closely. You will have 30 seconds. And your time starts now.

KOSTA: According to his authorized biography, Steve Jobs would sometimes do what with toilet bowl water at Apple's offices?  Soak his feet, ferment kombucha, wash his armpits, fill water pistols to spray at employees. 13 seconds.

STARK: Read them again, Michael.

KOSTA: Soak his feet, ferment komucha, wash his armpits, spray employees.

[Buzzer]

KIMMEL: Ooh. Alright. I told you he would have the answer.

MCLENDON-COVEY: Alright.

KIMMEL: We lost him, which was unfortunate, but he probably didn't know it.

KOSTA: I'm really pissed off because I read the book.

KIMMEL: Yeah.

KOSTA: But, to me, this is a no-brainer. This is big money. It goes to a great cause. I think we should walk away.

KIMMEL: You agree, Wendi?

KOSTA: I know. I know. I know. I don't have a clear answer.

MCLENDON-COVEY: I don't either.

KOSTA: I probably think it is that. I think you're probably right.

KIMMEL: What do you think it is?

KOSTA: I think it probably—for some reason, I'm really leaning towards fills water pistols because that is the kind of annoying [bleep] he would do.

MCLENDON-COVEY: We still get this.

KOSTA: Yeah.

MCLENDON-COVEY: Come on.

KOSTA: I can be convinced. You want to do it?

MCLENDON-COVEY: Yeah. Do it.

KOSTA: Okay.

MCLENDON-COVEY: Do it. We're here.

KOSTA: D, fill water pistols to spray at employees, final answer.

KIMMEL: That is your final answer.

KOSTA: I have to stand up.

MCLENDON-COVEY: Yup.

KIMMEL: Well, I am sorry to say that that is not the correct answer. Steve Jobs would soak his feet—

MCLENDON-COVEY: What!

KIMMEL: — toilet bowl water.

KOSTA: That guy was weird, man.

MCLENDON-COVEY: There's no reason for that!

KIMMEL: You played well. You know, you went for it. Doesn't always work out. But we appreciate you being here. And we're gonna donate $32,000 to your charities.