During halftime of the Pistons’ second game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kimmel joked that celebrants would burn down the city if Detroit won. His talk show taped the next night contained more disparaging remarks about Detroit, so ABC television officials decided to replace it with a rerun nationwide.

Was Kimmel tasteless? Yes. Did ABC overreact? Probably. Is there a workplace lesson in this mess? You bet.

Kimmel is paid to make jokes, of course, but humor is a staple in many workplaces. Few politicians could succeed without a sense of humor; it also gives workers and managers a way to connect.

Usually.

But Kimmel crossed two dangerous lines: He chose a sensitive subject and a relatively weak target.

Detroit has had image problems for decades, so making nasty comments about the city came across as a cheap shot. Saying the same comments about a place that gets a lot of favorable publicity — like New York or San Francisco — wouldn’t have had nearly the same impact.

In fact, when Kimmel apologized, he even joked: “Over the past 10 years, we in L.A. have taken a commanding lead in post-game riots. If the Lakers win, I plan to overturn my own car.”

Few got angry about that comment because Kimmel was poking fun at himself, and his home. Those are much safer targets.

At work, joking with boisterous colleagues can make the workplace fun. But do a reality check once in a while to make sure you didn’t strike any nerves. And if you did, follow Kimmel’s lead: Apologize quickly.