Chef making Jimmy Kimmel appearance
Matty Matheson is getting his utensils ready for another appearance on a major U.S. network late-night TV show.
Tonight, the chef and New York Times bestselling author from Fort Erie will appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” to promote his cookbook while preparing an Italian supper taken from his in-laws’ collection of recipes.
Ricotta-stuffed shells and sauce with homemade pepperoncini chili flakes will be on the menu when he is introduced as the second guest of the program after what could be a tough act to follow — comedy superstars Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly sitting with Kimmel at his desk to talk about their new holiday blockbuster “Holmes and Watson.”
He admits that being on such a high-profile show does take some mental preparation in the days leading up to it, but not letting it mess too much with his head is the game plan, he said on Tuesday.
“Hopefully, I can be calm and just be myself,” he said in a phone interview from Hawaii.
“You don’t want to show up and be a complete dummy, so you do have to think about it a little bit,” he explained.
A popular internet personality for several years with two of his own shows on Viceland behind him, Matheson is no stranger to interacting with celebrities.
A fan of Ferrell and Reilly, he plans to play it cool when he meets them.
“It’s just like meeting anyone else. I’m not going to start saying jokes from ‘Step Brothers,’” said Matheson of one of the duo’s movies.
In February, Matheson was a guest on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” — an appearance he says he’s learned from and hopes to put to use when his Kimmel spot is recorded today.
“The first time I did a late-night show was pretty hectic,” said Matheson, who also cooked up a number of dishes on the “Rachel Ray” show in October.
Getting booked on Kimmel started when he connected with the veteran TV host through some mutual friends and ended up sending him a personal copy of his cookbook.
“He hit me up and said he loved it and has been kind enough to have me on his show,” Matheson said about a “few exchanges” he’s had with Kimmel recently.
“I’m looking forward to meeting him. He seems very approachable.”
Matheson appeared in a prerecorded segment on CBC’s “This Hour Has 22 Minutes” Tuesday night.
“Matty Matheson: A Cookbook” made the New York Times bestseller list in October and is available everywhere books are sold.
Matheson, a Lakeshore Catholic High School graduate, spent nearly 20 years living in Toronto before moving back to Fort Erie earlier this year.
Jimmy Kimmel Live airs at 11:35 p.m. on ABC.
Also appearing is musical guest Rita Wilson.