Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show is expected to come to an end in 2027, we hear, with sources telling Page Six that next season of ABC’s late night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will be the last.
“His contract is not getting extended,” a source familiar with the situation explained.
The season begins on Tuesday and would wrap up with his final episode, after 24 years on the air, in May.
A spokesperson for ABC Entertainment told us, “[this] information is inaccurate – any reports about the future of the show at this point are purely speculative.”
Kimmel famously takes pride in signing year-to-year deals, which is rare in the TV biz and allows him an unusual flexibility.
The news comes on the heels of Rosie O’Donnell completing a successful four-night guest hosting run on his show that ended up being a ratings success.
O’Donnell was “in her element,” a source told us. So much so that she went viral for her mocking her longtime nemesis Trump by performing a parody of traditional Irish song “Danny Boy” she dubbed “Donnie Boy.”
Kimmel has been fronting the show since 2003, making him one of the longest-running network late night hosts behind only David Letterman and Johnny Carson.
Insiders say the move is unlikely to be related to Kimmel’s infamously antagonistic relationship with the Trump administration.
Kimmel was embroiled in a nasty feud with President Trump last year after he quipped that First Lady Melania Trump “had a glow like an expectant widow,” days before before a third assassination attempt on the president.
An infuriated Trump immediately called for ABC to fire him. He also criticized the late night host on his remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assasination, which subsequently found him yanked off the air temporarily under Disney CEO Bob Iger.
But out sources say new Disney boss Josh D’Amaro wouldn’t be swayed by politics.
“He’s not afraid of the administration… Josh isn’t folding,” the TV insider said.
D’Amaro has reportedly been offering veteran execs at the company early retirement packages as part of restructuring and cost-cutting across the company.
Cost reductions may have played a factor in their decision to part ways with Kimmel because, as one ABC source said, “it wouldn’t have anything to do with Trump.”
Coincidentally, ABC and Disney sued the FCC the day after O’Donnell’s “Kimmel” debut, accusing it of attacking its free speech by requesting to review ABC’s broadcasting licenses earlier than usual.
It’s a tumultuous time in late night. CBS just ended the “Late Show,” with Stephen Colbert in May.
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