Summary
**One-Sentence Summary**
Actor Patrick Ball joins Jimmy Kimmel Live to discuss his Emmy nomination for *The Pitt*, his serendipitous connection with guest host Colman Domingo, and the diverse odd jobs he held before his breakthrough role.
**Paragraph Summary**
In this episode of *Jimmy Kimmel Live*, actor Patrick Ball is interviewed by guest host Colman Domingo regarding his acclaimed performance in the HBO Max series *The Pitt*, which has earned him an Emmy nomination. Ball shares the backstory of how he and Domingo met during the pandemic while Ball was a student at Yale School of Drama, where Domingo taught a self-tape class that ultimately helped Ball land his career-defining role. The conversation highlights Ball’s admiration for Domingo’s integrity and joy in acting, as well as a humorous anecdote about bumping into both Domingo and Jennifer Lopez at an Emmy after-party. Ball also opens up about his family background, noting that his mother was an ER nurse and his father a paramedic, which provided him with unique insights into the medical jargon required for the show. Finally, Ball recounts his journey as a working actor, detailing various odd jobs he performed to make ends meet, including working as a night security guard in Alaska, an East River ferry worker, and running a mobile axe-throwing business, where he even conducted corporate training simulations for investment bankers.
**Key Takeaways**
* **Emmy Recognition:** Patrick Ball received an Emmy nomination for his role in *The Pitt*, a show that itself was nominated for a record 25 Emmys.
* **Serendipitous Connections:** Ball’s career trajectory was significantly influenced by his time in Colman Domingo’s self-tape class at Yale during the pandemic; Domingo later remembered him at an industry party, leading to a lasting professional relationship.
* **Medical Authenticity:** Ball’s parents’ careers in emergency medicine (ER nurse and paramedic) helped him navigate the complex medical terminology on *The Pitt*, though they also provided critical feedback on his performance.
* **Diverse Work History:** Before achieving success, Ball worked a variety of unconventional jobs, including:
* Night security guard at a fishing lodge in Alaska.
* Employee at the East River Ferry.
* Operator of a mobile axe-throwing trailer.
* Corporate training actor simulating difficult conversations (such as firing employees) for investment banks.
**Important People/Entities**
* **Patrick Ball:** Actor, star of *The Pitt*, and guest on the show.
* **Colman Domingo:** Actor and guest host of *Jimmy Kimmel Live*; mentor figure to Ball from Yale.
* **Jimmy Kimmel:** Host of the show.
* **The Pitt:** HBO Max medical drama series starring Patrick Ball.
* **Yale School of Drama:** Institution where Ball studied and met Domingo.
* **Jennifer Lopez (JLo):** Mentioned in an anecdote about an Emmy after-party.
* **Forest McClendon:** Actor and teacher mentioned by Ball as a connection to Colman Domingo.
* **Noah Hawley & John Wells:** Creators/producers of *The Pitt* mentioned by Ball.
**Notable Timestamps**
* **01:03:** Patrick Ball enters the stage and receives congratulations for his Emmy nomination.
* **01:30:** Ball explains how he met Colman Domingo during the pandemic while attending Yale School of Drama.
* **03:11:** Ball recounts a funny story about meeting Colman Domingo and Jennifer Lopez at an MPTF party.
* **06:35:** Discussion about Ball’s parents being in the medical field (ER nurse and paramedic) and how it helped with the show's jargon.
* **08:19:** Ball lists his previous odd jobs, starting with being a security guard in Alaska.
* **08:41:** Ball describes running a mobile axe-throwing trailer and conducting corporate training simulations.
* **10:48:** Closing remarks and promotion for *The Pitt* on HBO Max.