Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1541330
JKL! Costume Supervisor Cynthia Quiroga, who has worked on the show since 2005, says that the show "runs a lot like a theater department, as opposed to a TV or film department because Rodney is a Theater Costume Designer, and he's held on to those values for a long time and he likes to make a show of it, so we do too." Quiroga says, "What I really want to highlight when we're talking about all these costumes and the innovative ways that we have to approach these, it really does always start with Rodney. It's his brain that says that we can do this. And oen, we're like, 'oh my god, I can't believe he just said yes to that.' It's his brain that makes us jump over the hoop to get there, and we do it. I mean, we're prey loyal to how he directs us. So, it always happens—my favorite part is when we put it away." The Costume Department is spread throughout El Capitan's building, and the team organizes their stock in every nook and cranny of the space that they are given. Special Costume Manufacturer Jillian Wilschke, who has been on the show for about five years, has a workspace where all the machines are set up, but tables are brought out in other spaces to be able to work throughout the department. "There are times where we pull out a table, build something out so we have a lile bit more space for it." Wilschke goes on to say, "I work on anything that needs to be built or alterations. If we need alterations for Guillermo, who is Jimmy's sidekick, I do his alterations. If there is a guest who comes in and has a problem five minutes before they go on, I usually go down to set with another Costumer and we fix it. We also have big walk-arounds that need to be built. I work on building the walk-arounds or whatever costumes that we might need, so it really just depends on the day and what's required. It's a wide range." In Wilschke's designated workroom space, she says, "We have some of our supplies and materials up here in the shelving, but most of it's going to be upstairs." She guides us up a ladder to an aic space where labeled tubs have all kinds of fabrics and sewing supplies. There are more aic spaces with different stock items such as lesser used clothing items and large walk-about mascot characters. Set Costumer Nestor Arce says, "We utilize as much space as we can," as he showed us the men's costume stock in the balcony above Studio C close to Kimmel's office. From undergarments to two-piece suits, the area is stocked wall to wall with clothes for the show's general stock. Along with all sorts of set supplies, this area stores "the typical stuff that we reach for the most." There are additional worktables for costume craing and all sorts of paerns from previously built costumes. "Jillian just organized all the paerns that we normally used over the years, whether it's bodysuits or for walk-abouts—everything is all there," says Arce. The team has to be creative with all the space they're alloed. "Since this is a historical landmark, you can't do too much, but try to utilize as much as possible." The building was built in 1921 and known previously as the Hollywood Masonic Temple. It was bought by Disney in 1998 and JKL! has been filming at the location since Costume Supervisor Cynthia Quiroga; (opposite) Rocio Estrada giving a tour of Jimmy Kimmel's closet. 16 WINTER 2026