In a move that kept the late‑night landscape intact, ABC announced on Monday that it had signed Jimmy Kimmel to a one‑year contract extension, keeping the host on the air until at least May 2027.
Extension Secures Kimmel Through 2027
Kimmel’s previous multiyear agreement was set to expire next May, so the new extension will keep him on the air for an additional year. The deal, signed by ABC, extends his tenure beyond the end of the original contract and will keep the show running through May 2027.
Suspension After Charlie Kirk Remarks
In September, ABC suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” following remarks Kimmel made after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The suspension was lifted after a public outcry, and Kimmel returned to the air with stronger ratings than before.
Trump’s Social Media Outrage
Kimmel’s relentless joking at the president’s expense led Trump to urge the network to “get the bum off the air” in a social media post last month. The post followed Kimmel’s nearly 10‑minute monologue on Trump and the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Kennedy Center Honors and Kimmel’s Comment
Kimmel was on Trump’s mind Sunday as the president hosted the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington. Trump said, “Jimmy Kimmel was horrible, and some of these people, if I can’t beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent, then I don’t think I should be president.” Kimmel has hosted the Oscars four times but has never hosted the Kennedy Center show.
Ratings Surge and Trump‑Targeted Monologues
Just last week, Kimmel was needling Trump on the president’s approval ratings. “There are gas stations on Yelp with higher approval ratings than Trump right now,” he said. The monologue drew viewers and further inflamed Trump’s ire.
Stephen Colbert’s CBS Exit
Kimmel will stay on air longer than late‑night colleague Stephen Colbert at CBS. CBS announced this summer it was ending Colbert’s show next May for economic reasons, even though it is the top‑rated network show in late‑night television.
Industry Landscape and Ratings Trends
ABC has aired Kimmel’s late‑night show since 2003, during a time of upheaval in the industry. Like much of broadcast television, late‑night ratings are down. Viewers increasingly turn to watching monologues online the day after they appear.
Bill Carter’s Perspective on the Extension
Most of Kimmel’s recent renewals have been multiyear extensions, but there was no immediate word on whose choice it was to extend his current contract by one year. Bill Carter, author of “The Late Shift” and veteran chronicler of late‑night TV, cautioned against reading too much into the length of the extension. “Kimmel, at age 58, knows he’s getting close to the end of the line,” Carter said, “but when he leaves, he doesn’t want it to appear under pressure from Trump or anyone.” “He wants to make sure that it’s on his terms,” Carter added.
Kirk Assassination Commentary
Following Kirk’s killing, Kimmel was criticized for saying that “the MAGA gang” was “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.” Nexstar and Sinclair television ownership groups said it would take Kimmel off the air, leading to ABC’s suspension. When he returned, Kimmel did not apologize for his remarks, but he said he did not intend to blame any specific group for Kirk’s assassination. He said, “It was never my intention to make the light of the murder of a young man.”
Key Takeaways
- ABC extends Jimmy Kimmel’s contract through May 2027 after a one‑year extension.
- The extension follows a September suspension over remarks about Charlie Kirk and a surge in ratings after the return.
- Trump’s social media posts and Kimmel’s monologues on the president’s approval ratings have kept the feud in the public eye.
The extension keeps Kimmel’s show running for a full year beyond the original multiyear agreement, amid a backdrop of political tension, a high‑profile suspension, and shifting late‑night viewership patterns.
