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Jimmy Kimmel<\/strong> may be one of the kings of late-night television<\/a>, but his life could have turned out very differently.<\/p>\n While appearing on the Wednesday, October 22, episode of Ted Danson<\/strong>\u2019s Where Everybody Knows Your Name<\/em> podcast<\/a>, the Cheers<\/em> actor asked Kimmel, 57, about how he got his start in the industry.<\/p>\n \u201cI was always looking for a little extra money,\u201d Kimmel said of his early career. \u201cI made no money, and I wound up on a game show called Win Ben Stein\u2019s Money<\/em>, which was on Comedy Central. That\u2019s how it started.\u201d<\/p>\n His job as a co-host on the TV game show ultimately led to Jimmy Kimmel Live!<\/em>, all thanks to Michael Davies<\/strong>, \u201cthe same guy who hired me for Win Ben Stein\u2019s Money<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was an executive at ABC. He\u2019s the producer of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?<\/em>, which I now host,\u201d explained Kimmel. \u201cHe\u2019s just a guy who recognized my talent when I was young, and he went to Lloyd Braun<\/strong>, who was the president of ABC at the time, and he said to Lloyd, \u2018Listen I got this guy. I know you\u2019re looking for a late-night show.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n At the time, the network was seeking a replacement for Bill Maher<\/strong>\u2019s talk show Politically Incorrect<\/em>. ABC initially offered the slot to David Letterman<\/strong>, Kimmel said, \u201cbut he went to CBS instead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey were almost about to hire Jon Stewart<\/strong><\/a>,\u201d said Kimmel, explaining that he and the Daily Show<\/em> host had the same manager.<\/p>\n