"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" is expected to conclude its 24-year run in May 2027, according to sources speaking with Page Six. The show's upcoming season, which begins Tuesday, is reportedly set to be its final installment, as the host's contract is not being renewed by ABC.
A spokesperson for ABC Entertainment stated that any reports regarding the show's future are speculative and inaccurate. Kimmel has historically opted for year-to-year contract renewals, a practice that affords him significant flexibility in the television industry.
The news follows a successful four-night guest hosting stint by Rosie O'Donnell, which reportedly saw a ratings increase. During her guest appearance, O'Donnell performed a parody song she called "Donnie Boy," a jab at former President Donald Trump.
Kimmel began hosting the show in 2003, placing him among the longest-serving network late-night hosts, preceded only by David Letterman and Johnny Carson. Insiders suggest that the decision to potentially end the show is not linked to Kimmel's public disagreements with the Trump administration. The host faced criticism and a temporary removal from air last year after remarks about First Lady Melania Trump, which led to an angry response from then-President Trump, who called for Kimmel's dismissal from ABC.
Despite past political tensions, sources indicate that the current leadership at Disney, including Josh D'Amaro, would not be influenced by political factors. Recent restructuring and cost-cutting measures across Disney, which have included early retirement offers to executives, may have played a role in the decision to part ways with Kimmel, according to an ABC source who emphasized that "it wouldn’t have anything to do with Trump."
Coincidentally, ABC and its parent company Disney initiated a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the day after O'Donnell's guest hosting debut. The lawsuit challenges the FCC's requests to review ABC's broadcasting licenses earlier than scheduled, which the companies contend is an infringement on free speech. This development occurs during a period of transition in late-night television, with Stephen Colbert having recently concluded his run on "The Late Show" in May.