The world of late night television is fiercely competitive.
Millions of us sit down every evening to watch some of the most recognizable faces on the planet being interviewed by equally recognizable faces who have become celebrities in their own right.
Everyone has their favourite, and debate over who is the best of the late night crowd is fierce and unabating. Some prefer Conan O'Brien's more traditional, 'pure' approach to late night television, with his affable interviewing style coupled with an often irreverent, offbeat sense of humour.
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Others point to
Jimmy Fallon and his new age late night TV that places a premium on shareable moments that perform well on YouTube and other social platforms.
Somewhere in the middle, there lies
Jimmy Kimmel, whose late night show is much loved and endorsed by celebrities and members of his Handsome Men's club.
Of late, though, Kimmel has been going through something of a personal struggle, after his son was forced to go through heart surgery. Indeed, Kimmel had taken a week's break from the show to spend time with his family ahead of his son Billy's second heart surgery, and it is certainly fair to say that his return to the world of late night was an emotional one on Monday night.
It was a triumph, and Kimmel treated his fans to a huge surprise by bringing his seven-month-old son as he gave us all a health update on young Billy's condition;
"This guy had heart surgery, but look — he's fine, everybody!
"He may have pooped, but he's fine. . . . Daddy cries on TV, but Billy doesn't. It's unbelievable."
Kimmel then issued a heartfelt thank you to the staff of "Children's hospital" and explained to his audience that a vital children's healthcare service Children's Health Insurance Program is in danger of losing its funding;
"Now CHIP has become a bargaining chip.
"It's on the back burner while they work out the new tax plans.
"Why hasn't CHIP been funded already?
"If these were potato chips they were taking away from us, we would be marching on Washington with pitchforks and spears right now."
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Kimmel's son was born back in April when doctors discovered that he had a congenital heart defect; he has already undergone two heart surgeries and will require one more operation in the future.
As Kimmel himself put it;
"Billy is doing great, by the way. He has one more surgery.
"They say he’s probably on track to win at least a bronze medal in the Olympics in 2036."
Perhaps due to his experience with his own son, Jimmy Kimmel has found himself in the center of the healthcare debate, and expressed his belief that the CHIP programme has become a political bargaining tool.
Let's hope Billy keeps on fighting and that children in the United States get the care they so deserve.
