Author: Debbie Emery

AP Photo/Daniel Johnston

Jimmy Kimmel had an interesting business proposition for guest Kobe Bryant on Thursday night, but sadly the NBA definitely wouldn’t approve.

The late-night host asked the Los Angeles Lakers star if, now that the league has ousted Clippers owner Donald Sterling, he would buy the rival team

Normally never at a loss for words, the former MVP looked highly uncomfortable touching on the controversial topic of Sterling’s alleged racist rant and lifetime ban, replying: “No. … I know that’s not a possibility as terms of brand appreciation goes.” 

STORY: Oprah Winfrey in Talks With David Geffen, Larry Ellison to Bid for Clippers

He went on to say that he had met with Sterling in the past to talk about playing for the team, explaining that the reason he didn’t make the move came down to money rather than racism.

“At the time, the biggest concern was if he was willing to spend enough to have a championship team,” he said, adding that since then, “he has spent the money to go out and keep Blake [Griffin] and DeAndre [Jordan].”

STORY: Magic Johnson: ‘I Will Never Go to a Clippers Game Again’ After Owner’s Racist Rant

Despite Kimmel pushing Bryant to discuss the issue that has rocked the NBA and even prompted a comment from President Obama, Kobe dodged it as best he could.

“Chris [Paul] is a friend of mine, so I sent him a message throughout this whole fiasco,” he said, revealing that he was happy that his division rivals were powering through the playoffs.

“It doesn’t matter to me because I’m not winning. I think it is great for the city, it is great for competition. I love it when they do well.”

STORY: Donald Sterling’s Racist Rant Dominates Late-Night Shows

The Jimmy Kimmel Live! host had started off Thursday’s episode by taking a dig at Bryant’s flailing team, saying: “Up until last week, the Lakers were the most screwed up team in L.A. — then the Clippers came along.”

And as for the Lakers’ terrible year, which was plagued with injuries including his own torn Achilles and knee problems that kept him out of much of the 2013-14 season, Kobe told Kimmel sarcastically: “It has been highly enjoyable. I would rather stay at home and eat paint chips. It was tough.”

After unpopular coach Mike D’Antoni resigned last week, former Lakers great Magic Johnson blatantly celebrated with a jubilant tweet, which reminded Bryant of The Wizard of Oz.

“The first thing I thought of was seeing the munchkins on the yellow brick road singing that the witch is dead,” he joked.

“Mike was dealt a really bad hand dealing with all the injuries we had,” he added.

ABC

Sally Field, Jimmy Kimmel and Julia Roberts

With a slew of award-winning performances between them including Lincoln, Forrest Gump and Erin Brockovich, Sally Field and Julia Roberts showed their less demure sides when they appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2’s Field got things off on a festive foot by knocking back a shot of tequila with Jimmy Kimmel to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. “That was seriously good! Julia is having that too,” she said. And when Roberts arrived to promote The Normal Heart on HBO, she told their host, “You are so much slimmer and more handsome in person,” before adding: “Somebody’s had some tequila… You’re getting so relaxed and happy.”

PHOTOS: Mark Ruffalo, Jim Parsons and the Making of ‘The Normal Heart’

The actresses, who co-starred in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias together, went on to play a raucous game of “Celebrity Curse Off,” prompting Roberts to marvel, “We can’t say one bad word?”

Over on NBC, Godzilla star Bryan Cranston made his Tonight Show appearance count on Monday, playing a “Word Sneak” game with Jimmy Fallon where the two had to drop in random words into conversation. The highlight? Cranston pulling a John Travolta and butchering the pronunciation “badonkadonk.”

In his first talk show since his team’s Super Bowl loss, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning threw some footballs around with David Letterman on the Late Show, where he tackled the problem of other teams deciphering his famous “Omaha” play call.

VIDEO: Jimmy Fallon Unveils Top 10 Reasons David Letterman is Retiring

“I think you’ve got to get up there and just say some really negative things about the commissioner, Roger Goodell … You know, just, ’Blue 20, blue 20, Roger Goodell is a no-good, you-know-what,’ you know, and I think they’ll just kind of turn that volume down a little bit,” he joked.

Having been married for 20 years, Late Night guest Jenna Elfman offered her advice to newlywed Seth Meyers, who complained, “Every time I come home, there is a man there who she claims in our gardener, but we don’t have a garden,” he  joked. “Are you still getting laid? Then don’t question it,” she said.

Mindy Kaling also stopped by to vent about her (nonexistent) relationship with Fred Armisen, and how she has since kissed every Mindy Project male guest star except for Meyers, who appeared in season one.

Craig Ferguson was joined by Mad Men actress Elisabeth Moss — who got a surprise phone call on a very classic-style telephone — and Harry Potter star Tom Felton, with the British actor moaning about the lack of good tea bags in Los Angeles.

NBC

Always up for challenge, Emma Stone was keen to take on Jimmy Fallon in a Lip Sync Battle on Monday, giving the Tonight Show host a run for his money with a passionate performance before he pulled out a very lively dance to “Mr. Roboto.”

Once the microphones were set aside, Stone shared her new Internet and TV obsessions: Pinterest, The Only Way Is Essex, and Made in Chelsea. “I am definitely watching that show.”

Having filmed The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in New York City, the star went on to reveal that the crew “were blowing up cars in the street, and New Yorkers just wanted to get to work and would walk right by. They had to hire people to react!”

STORY: Donald Sterling’s Racist Rant Dominates Late-Night Shows

Fallon also pranked unsuspecting New Yorkers by having them shout at a cardboard cutout of former Yankees player Robinson Cano in frustration over him leaving for the Seattle Mariners.

Cano later went on the show and pledged his respect for Jay Z, having signed with his management agency earlier this month. “He is a great guy, that is a guy you want on your side.”

Jimmy Kimmel had Jennifer Lopez on his show, where the singer talked about the pressure of being late for her album deadline, revealing that if she doesn’t get it in on time, her manager, Benny Medina, shouts at her.

VIDEO: Neil Patrick Harris Confesses to Heckling Audience Members As ‘Hedwig

When it comes to her other job, on American Idol, the “Jenny From the Block” singer said, “I do love it, I have a great time on that show,” adding that Harry Connick Jr. “is not a mean guy, he’s a pussycat.”

Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss opened up about her talent for singing Jay Z songs. “The only time my musical talent will come out is in a karaoke situation,” said the actress, confessing that she recently did a rendition of “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing “complete with lift” while partying in a karaoke bar in the Valley with co-star Jon Hamm.

After discussing being an English actor in an Irish play on Broadway, Daniel Radcliffe told Seth Meyers of his very American fascination with football.

“I am a secret American now. I love NFL, and I have gotten into the hockey playoffs,” said the Harry Potter star, admitting he is obsessed with Fantasy Football, studies the mock draft and named his fantasy team “Barkevious Mingo‘s Mum” after a Cleveland Browns player.

David Letterman tried to make guest Joel McHale nervous about his upcoming hosting duties at the White House Correspondents’ dinner. “It seems pretty easy,” said the Community star. “I am just going to wing it and see what happens.”