“I know it’s the holidays, but a lot of people are going to be fired tonight,” Jimmy Kimmel joked as chaos unfolded onstage during the Dec. 3, 2025 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The late-night host, always game for a holiday stunt, attempted a seemingly simple challenge in honor of Spotify’s long-awaited Wrapped 2025 rollout this week — and instantly regretted it.

Kimmel invited five staffers from the Jimmy Kimmel Live! crew to join him onstage, each with their Spotify Wrapped top songs projected on a massive screen behind them. His mission: match each person to their playlist.

It did not go well.

‘I’ve Known Some of These People for 20 Years and I Still Have No Clue’

From the moment Kimmel began pointing wildly at the lists — featuring everything from indie folk to hyper-pop to a suspicious amount of 2000s emo — the crowd sensed disaster.

Within seconds, he mixed up two producers’ playlists, accused his drummer of “lying to his face,” and confidently matched the wrong writer with a playlist topped by Doja Cat, earning a loud chorus of boos.

“Oh my God, the audience has turned on me!” Kimmel shouted as viewers roared with laughter.

Even the crew started laughing at him — and each other — as the mismatch carnage escalated.

‘A Lot of People Are Going to Be Fired’ — Kimmel Loses Control

Trying to regain authority, Kimmel doubled down.

“Listen, I know it’s the holidays,” he warned dramatically, “but a lot of people are going to be fired tonight.”

The joke only made the crowd louder.

At one point, he confidently placed his longtime writer in front of a playlist featuring Chrome Hearts Baby, prompting the writer to yell:

“Jimmy, that’s literally the intern’s top song!”

By the third attempt, it was clear Kimmel was operating on pure panic and guesswork.

The Final Reveal: Total Humiliation

When the true matches were revealed, Kimmel was proven wrong in nearly every category — and the studio erupted.

The host threw his hands up in defeat as the audience cheered on the victorious crew.

“This is humiliating,” he admitted. “I feel like I’m being punked by my own show.”

A Holiday Fail, A Viral Win

Despite Kimmel’s complete meltdown, fans loved every second. The clip instantly began circulating online, with viewers praising the comedian for leaning into the chaos.

And with Spotify Wrapped still taking over social feeds worldwide, Kimmel’s on-air disaster couldn’t have been better timed.

Watch the full, hilarious segment above.