Jimmy Kimmel has offered Stephen Colbert a guest host position on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" following CBS's cancellation of "The Late Show," the ABC host revealed in a recent interview. Kimmel, who typically uses guest hosts during his summer hiatus, told Variety that he "gladly" would have stepped aside for Colbert.
Kimmel's remarks come as his own show has seen a significant ratings increase since Colbert's program went off the air. He sarcastically expressed gratitude to CBS for the boost, stating, "The ratings are very strong, which we are very grateful to CBS for their wisdom. We were doing pretty well before that, but that really helped."
CBS cited financial losses of $40 million per year as the reason for canceling "The Late Show." However, this explanation was met with skepticism, including from Kimmel, who dismissed the figure as "lies." Industry observers suggested the cancellation might have been an effort to appease then-President Donald Trump, who had publicly called for the cancellation of Colbert and other late-night hosts. The decision to cancel Colbert's show occurred shortly before its parent company, Paramount, secured FCC approval for a major merger.
The cancellation sparked widespread criticism, with Kimmel himself urging viewers to boycott "The Late Show" after Colbert's final broadcast in May.