‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ Season 5 returns to with Jimmy Kimmel and celebrity guests

LOS ANGELES — Jimmy Kimmel is back for another season of celebrity competition on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?,” with a new group of stars trying to win $1 million for their favorite charities.

The fifth season of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” is set to air on . Previous celebrity-edition winners include Ike Barinholtz and Alan Barinholtz, Matt Damon and Ken Jennings, and Oscar Nuñez and Kate Flannery.

Kimmel said he enjoys hosting the show. “I I love doing the show. It’s so much easier than doing my show,” he said.

The host said the charity component adds meaning to the competition. “I think what’s even more meaningful is hearing the people talk about the charities because in many cases, it’s a very personal connection,” Kimmel said. “So you get to learn a little bit about what these people that you know care about.”

Kimmel also has personal experience in the hot seat. He was a contestant with Regis Philbin in 2001 and said he won $125,000 during that appearance.

“I have been on the show by myself with no partner and a lifeline who didn’t really understand what he was supposed to do. And I won $125,000 back in the Regis days,” Kimmel said.

This season includes a number of comedians, which Kimmel said brings a natural energy to the game. “Yeah, you know what, when you have two comedians sitting next to each other, especially when they’ve known each other for a long time,” he said. “It’s, you there’s just a chemistry there and a rhythm and sometimes they jab each other, and it’s a lot of fun to watch.”

The season also includes Clayton Kershaw, who is playing with Brad Paisley. “He, well, I’m not gonna say how it went, but I will say that he represented his team well,” Kimmel said.

Kimmel is currently on summer vacation from “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” with guest hosts sitting in.

Watch the season premiere of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” Wednesday, July 22 on and stream the next day on Hulu.

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