Is Jimmy Kimmel’s Late Night Run Really Over? What Latest Update Reveals

Is Jimmy Kimmel‘s late-night run operating on borrowed time, or are the rumors of his show’s demise at ABC unfounded? After it was reported by Page Six that Jimmy Kimmel Live!‘s run would likely end in 2027, new details suggest that the information was premature, as the host looks to extend his run into at least 2028.

According to Puck’s latest newsletter from Matthew Belloni, the rumors of Jimmy Kimmel Live! ending have been “greatly exaggerated. “Jimmy Kimmel isn’t fired. Jimmy Kimmel Live! isn’t canceled — not yet, at least,” Belloni revealed. The rumor about Kimmel’s TV fate ignited when a source told Page Six that his contract “is not getting extended.”

But, per Belloni’s report, Kimmel is far from calling it quits as negotiations to extend his contract remain underway. Following his return from summer break at the end of August, Kimmel reportedly began conversations about re-upping his contract for another season beyond the current deal, which is slated to conclude in May 2027.

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The one potential snag in that extension is budget cuts, which haven’t been a dealbreaker for those on either side of the negotiation, which include Disney Entertainment Television’s chair, Debra O’Connell, and Kimmel’s agent, James “Baby Doll” Dixon. Belloni reports that Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been produced on about one-hundred million dollars a year, on par with CBS’s former budget for The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

According to Belloni, Kimmel’s show could see a twenty percent cut, should the show carry on into 2028. While Kimmel remains a top late-night host, pulling in higher ratings than NBC’s Jimmy Fallon, even picking up some of Colbert’s former viewers, the numbers aren’t what they once were for the timeslot.

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So, while fans shouldn’t give up hope for the continuation of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Belloni warns that the FCC and political ramifications of the show’s continuation could continue to cause hiccups for Kimmel and ABC. Will the potential backlash be worth the effort to keep Jimmy Kimmel Live! on air?  Only time will tell, but rest assured, the show isn’t going anywhere for now.

Let us know your thoughts on Jimmy Kimmel Live!‘s potential future, and stay tuned for more details in the weeks ahead.

Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Weeknights, 11:35/10:35c, ABC