Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC Late-Night Show Reportedly Ending After 24 Years
Jimmy Kimmel’s decades-long run at ABC may finally be approaching its conclusion, with a new report claiming that his late-night contract will not be renewed after the upcoming season.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is reportedly expected to air its final episode in May 2027, ending Kimmel’s roughly 24-year tenure behind the network’s late-night desk.
ABC Reportedly Preparing for Kimmel’s Exit
According to Page Six, the forthcoming season of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is expected to be the program’s last.
“His contract is not getting extended,” a source familiar with the situation told the outlet.
The new season is scheduled to begin Tuesday and continue through May 2027. Kimmel has hosted the ABC program since its debut in 2003, making him one of the longest-serving late-night hosts in network television history.
Because Kimmel has reportedly operated under a year-to-year contract, both he and ABC have maintained considerable flexibility in deciding whether to continue the show.
Disney Faces Restructuring and Cost Cuts
The report arrives as Disney undergoes a broader restructuring effort under new CEO Josh D’Amaro.
D’Amaro has reportedly offered early-retirement packages to longtime executives as the entertainment company searches for ways to reduce expenses. One ABC source suggested that financial concerns could ultimately influence any decision about Kimmel and his costly late-night operation.
The source nevertheless insisted that Kimmel’s potential departure “wouldn’t have anything to do with Trump.” ExecutiveBranch
That explanation places the reported cancellation within a growing industrywide retreat from expensive network late-night programming, which has struggled to retain the cultural influence it once enjoyed.
Kimmel’s Feud With President Trump
Although insiders are pointing toward business considerations, Kimmel’s long-running hostility toward President Donald J. Trump remains an unavoidable part of the story.
The ABC host has repeatedly used his program to attack the president and his supporters. Earlier this year, Kimmel faced backlash after making a joke about first lady Melania Trump shortly before a reported third assassination attempt against the president.
President Trump subsequently called on ABC to fire the late-night host.
Kimmel also encountered intense criticism over comments he made following the September 2025 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Those remarks reportedly resulted in the host being temporarily removed from the air under then-Disney CEO Bob Iger.
Sources Reject Claims of Political Pressure
Despite that bitter history, insiders maintained that pressure from the Trump administration is not responsible for the reported decision.
“He’s not afraid of the administration … Josh isn’t folding,” one television insider said of D’Amaro.
Another source similarly argued that Kimmel’s future would be determined by business calculations rather than political pressure.
If accurate, those accounts suggest Disney’s restructuring and the weakening economics of traditional late-night television are the primary forces behind Kimmel’s expected departure.
Network Late Night Faces an Uncertain Future
Kimmel’s reported exit would represent another major disruption for a television format increasingly defined by shrinking audiences, high production costs and overtly partisan commentary.
CBS recently ended “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” following its lengthy run.
Rosie O’Donnell also completed a four-night guest-hosting stint on Kimmel’s program that reportedly delivered strong ratings. During the appearance, O’Donnell attracted attention by mocking President Trump through a “Danny Boy” parody titled “Donnie Boy.”
With networks continuing to reevaluate the financial viability of legacy programming, Kimmel may become the latest prominent liberal late-night personality to lose his longtime platform.