Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Jimmy Kimmel Live! renewed through 2027: Contract extension secured for ABC late-night show
ALSO READ: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi left the UK and returned to the US, saying country life was too boring
People reports that on Monday, December 8, longtime host Jimmy Kimmel Live! Signed a new contract extension for. The deal will keep the series on ABC through 2027, extending the series beyond the May 2026 end date it was initially working towards. Bloomberg first reported the renewal.
Why has the ABC contract renewal come now?
The timing of the extension is notable; It comes as President Donald Trump continues to call for the show to be taken off the air. Kimmel, 58, repeatedly responded to Trump’s sarcasm with jokes during his monologues. Trump, 79, claimed Kimmel “has no talent,” has “too low television ratings,” and even labeled him a “bum” in a post on Truth Social last month, People reports.
ALSO READ: Mysterious 3I/ATLAS spacecraft from US to Australia pushes countries into urgent space threat exercises
Despite the criticism, ABC opted to keep Kimmel on the network for at least one more season.
What led to Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension?
This renewal also follows a tense period for Kimmel and the channel. On September 17, ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! Kimmel said “indefinitely” after commenting on Charlie Kirk’s death. The network told People that Kimmel’s remarks were “offensive and insensitive at a critical moment in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the ideas, views or values of the local communities in which we operate.”
ALSO READ: What does 67 mean, who made the 67 meme and why is it so popular?
ABC added: “It is not in the public interest at this time to continue to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve, and we have made the difficult decision to preemptively cancel his show to ensure cooler heads prevail as we move toward a resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue.”
The program was off the air for six nights before returning on September 24. Kimmel opened his monologue that night with a tribute to Kirk and his widow, Erika Kirk.
How did the ratings react after the break?
Two days after his return, Kimmel joked that Trump actually helped the show. Viewership increased and became the “second highest rating” [episode] It has been on the air for almost 23 years.” “We couldn’t have done this without you, Mr. President,” Kimmel joked.
ALSO READ: Witness the longest solar eclipse in 100 years! Here’s when and where to see the longest celestial event of the century
Earlier in the year, Kimmel hinted that his late-night time might be dwindling. In a February 2024 interview with the Los Angeles Times, he said the three-year deal he signed in 2022 would “probably be his last.” “I hate even saying it because everyone laughs at me now every time I think about it but then it turns out that’s not the case,” she said, according to a report by People.
Even then he conceded: “I still have a little over two years left on my contract and that’s looking pretty good. That’s looking good enough.”
FAQ
How long will Jimmy Kimmel live! Shall we stay on the air now?
The new contract secures the show until 2027.
Why was Jimmy Kimmel suspended earlier this year?
ABC suspended him for six days following comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s death.
