Jimmy Kimmel pays tribute to the L.A. morning radio host who paved the way for his Hollywood career

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Kimmel arrived in Los Angeles in 1994, joining KROQ's popular Kevin & Bean morning radio show as "Jimmy the Sports Guy." This morning, co-host Gene "Bean" Baxter said goodbye to the show after 30 years. Over two lengthy Instagram posts, Kimmel recalled his collaboration with Bean, who would tease about being an adult man named "Jimmy." It was while working on Kevin and Bean that Kimmel first met Adam Carolla. Kimmel was challenged to a boxing match by Michael the Maintenance Man, an actual KROQ janitor and recurring personality on the show. Carolla cold-called the show and offered to train Kimmel for the boxing match, known as the "Bleeda in Reseda," thus forming their Man Show partnership. Carolla would later become a Kevin & Bean personality and co-host of KROQ's Loveline with Dr. Drew Pinsky.