Dildo loves Jimmy: late-night TV host named honorary mayor — if he visits
'You’ve still got to come to Newfoundland at some point,' says Andrew Pretty
After a week-long campaign, American late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel has been named mayor of Dildo, N.L., but there's a catch.
Kimmel has yet to visit the Avalon Peninsula community, but Dildo's committee was willing to choose him for the job should he agree to visit.
"We've ruled conditionally that you will be made honorary mayor," Andrew Pretty told Kimmel on Thursday's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live.
I will be a fair mayor, I will be a kind mayor.- Jimmy Kimmel
Pretty, a member of the local service district committee, has been front and centre in most of Kimmel's segments.
"We're going to give you the honour, but you've still got to come to Newfoundland at some point," he told the TV host.
Successful campaign
Kimmel was thrilled and agreed to the conditions.
"That goes without saying," he said.
"I will be a fair mayor, I will be a kind mayor."
After Premier Dwight Ball formally invited Kimmel to Dildo on Monday, with the host responding he had sent his "emissary," Guillermo Rodriguez, Ball made a trip to Dildo to appear on Thursday's show as well.
"We have some of the most amazing people on Earth," Ball told Kimmel.
The "Kimmel for Mayor" running gag started on his show Aug. 8 when he said he learned of the town's unique name and announced he wanted to be its mayor.
Of course, Kimmel's election is only an honorary title — Dildo is a local service district and doesn't have a mayor.
Nominal title
But Kimmel wasn't bothered by being mayor in name only.
"I won't have to do any work as mayor, will I?" he asked.
"No, that's why it's honorary — that means you won't have to do anything," Pretty said.
The committee of the local service district also presented Kimmel's sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, with a key to Dildo.
Rodriguez had been campaigning on Kimmel's behalf since Monday, shaking hands and smiling for selfies in the Newfoundland community.
Good press for Dildo
Kimmel's joke has been a boon for the community, with bars, restaurants and shops bustling with visitors.
Wanda Lee Poole says Dildo is having fun with the joke and taking advantage of all the attention.
"I think the publicity works both ways, and I think it's wonderful," she said.
"We're proud of our little community, and it is getting a lot of show right now … it's just a beautiful thing."
Randy Sooley says he has never seen Dildo so busy.
"Dildo's received more exposure in the past two weeks, perhaps, than it ever has before, so it's wonderful," he said.
"Certainly, the business community are nothing but winners out of all this."