ABC has signed Jimmy Kimmel to a one‑year extension that keeps the late‑night host on air through at least May 2027, even as the president of the United States publicly calls for his removal.
Contract Extension Details
ABC signed Kimmel to a one‑year extension after his previous multiyear contract was set to expire next May. The new deal keeps him on the air until at least May 2027. No immediate word was released about who decided to extend the contract.
Ratings Resurgence After Suspension
In September, ABC suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” following remarks made after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Public outcry led ABC to lift the suspension, and Kimmel returned with stronger ratings than before.
Trump’s Public Criticism
Kimmel continued to joke at the president’s expense, prompting Trump to urge the network to “get the bum off the air” in a social‑media post after Kimmel’s nearly 10‑minute monologue on Trump and the Jeffrey Epstein files. Trump also criticized Kimmel during the Kennedy Center Honors, saying: “I’ve watched some of the people that host… Jimmy Kimmel was horrible, and some of these people, if I can’t beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent, then I don’t think I should be president.” Kimmel last week quipped that “there are gas stations on Yelp with higher approval ratings than Trump right now.”
Comparisons and Industry Context
Kimmel will stay longer than late‑night colleague Stephen Colbert at CBS. CBS announced this summer that it would end Colbert’s show next May for economic reasons, even though it is the top‑rated network show in late‑night television. ABC has aired Kimmel’s show since 2003, a period marked by a decline in late‑night ratings as viewers increasingly turn to monologues online.
Commentary from Bill Carter
Bill Carter, author of “The Late Shift” and veteran chronicler of late‑night TV, cautioned against reading too much into the extension’s length. He noted that Kimmel, age 58, is aware of his approaching career end and wants to leave on his own terms, not under pressure from Trump or anyone else. Carter added that Kimmel has become a leading voice resisting Trump and that ABC’s decision to keep him on air is a stand for him.
Remarks on the Charlie Kirk Incident
After the killing, Kimmel criticized the “MAGA gang” in remarks that Nexstar and Sinclair said would lead to his removal from air. ABC suspended the show, but Kimmel returned without apologizing. He stated that he did not intend to blame any specific group for Kirk’s assassination and that he never meant to make light of the murder of a young man.
Key Takeaways
- ABC’s one‑year extension keeps Jimmy Kimmel on air through at least May 2027.
- The show rebounded in ratings after a September suspension linked to remarks about Charlie Kirk.
- Trump has publicly called for Kimmel’s removal, citing jokes about the president and the Epstein files.
The extension underscores ABC’s confidence in Kimmel’s draw amid political pushback and a shifting late‑night landscape.
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