> At a Glance
> – Jimmy Kimmel Live! will cut musical guests to two per week starting soon
> – The move follows Kimmel’s contract extension through 2027 and his Critics Choice win
> – Why it matters: Late-night music slots are a key promo path for artists
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is trimming its backstage headcount. ABC’s late-night staple is slicing the number of weekly musical performances, a shift that lands just weeks after host Jimmy Kimmel secured a two-year contract extension and scored Best Talk Show at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards.
Fewer Stage Lights
Multiple sources tell The Hollywood Reporter the plan caps music guests at two per week. Variety adds that the weekly count will now fluctuate rather than stick to the previous routine.
News Of Los Angeles reached out to a Kimmel rep for confirmation and has not yet received a response.
Awards-Season Jab
Kimmel, 58, used his Jan. 4 acceptance speech to thank President Donald Trump for supplying comedic fodder.
> “So thank you, Mr. President, for all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day.”
He also nodded to last year’s six-day suspension over on-air comments, praising supporters who “reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted.”
From Suspension to Celebration
Backstage, Kimmel likened the show’s 2025 turmoil to “a near-death experience.”
> “I did feel a little bit like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn watching their own funeral.”
The program returned Sept. 23, and Kimmel says the public outcry was “inspiring.”
> “When they come after the comedians, this is when we draw the line.”
Key Takeaways
- Two musical guests per week becomes the new ceiling on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- Kimmel’s contract now runs through 2027, buying stability for ABC
- The host credits Trump-era material and free-speech support for the Critics Choice victory
With music slots shrinking, the battle for late-night exposure just got tougher.
