Jimmy Kimmel is parting ways with Brent Montgomery

Jimmy Kimmel’s Kimmelot and Brent Montgomery’s Wheelhouse have parted ways after a six-year business partnership between the late-night host’s production banner and the producer’s startup media and investment company.

The change for Kimmelot and Wheelhouse has been in the works for months. Kimmelot’s exit from operations under the Wheelhouse umbrella was anticipated when Wheelhouse took its first round of outside funding earlier this year from Jeff Bewkes’ firm Alignment Growth. Kimmel is understood to have decided it was time for the company to transition from the Wheelhouse, where Kimmelot was founded in 2018, to a fully independent status. The partners considered the move to be amicable and noted that both companies will remain in business together on existing projects.

“When Wheelhouse took over the equity investment from Alignment Growth, we made the decision to strengthen the stake,” Wheelhouse and Kimmalot said in a joint statement. “Jimmy went from an equity partner to a commercial partner. While we no longer have ownership stakes in each other’s companies, Kimmelot and Wheelhouse continue to share resources and partner on a variety of individual projects.”

Scott Lonker, president of Kimmelot, will continue to play an executive role at Wheelhouse, where he serves as creative director.

Among Kimmelot’s TV projects to date have been ABC comedy specials called “Live in Front of a Studio Audience,” featuring live remakes with contemporary stars of classic sitcom episodes produced by Norman Lear as “All in the Family” and “Good Times.” The 2020 edition won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Show. The franchise proved to be a final bow for Lear, the legendary manufacturer who died in December 2023 at the age of 101.

Kimmelot also produces the ABC quiz show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” In April, the company launched the Hulu reality series “High Hopes,” following a pair of Belarusian brothers who try to launch a cannabis business in Hollywood.

Kimmel was the first bold name Montgomery recruited to work under the Wheelhouse umbrella, which is designed to provide investment and creative support to help producers cultivate their own projects and imprints.

Montgomery, a former head of ITV America and a veteran unscripted producer, launched Wheelhouse in January 2018. He made his mark as the creator of the History Channel’s long-running series “Pawn Stars.” Montgomery sold his Leftfield Entertainment to ITV for $350 million in 2014.

Other series currently produced by Wheelhouse include Netflix’s “King of Collectibles” from executive producer Peyton Manning, “Buying Beverly Hills” and “Players,” Hulu’s “Secret Chef” with Chang, “WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn” and the upcoming “Got to Get Out”; Max’s “Smartless: On the Road”; and Roku’s “Celebrity Family Cookoff” with Sofia Vergara.

(Pictured: Brent Montgomery and Jimmy Kimmel)