Jimmy Kimmel's Late-Night Show Expected to End After 24 Seasons
Sources say the next season of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will be the program's final run, with the host's contract not being renewed beyond 2027.
ABC Entertainment's late-night program "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" is projected to conclude after the 2026-2027 season, ending a 24-year run that began in 2003. Sources close to the network indicated that Kimmel's contract will not be extended, and the final episode is slated for May 2027.
ABC officials responded to the reports by stating that the information is inaccurate and that any speculation about the show's future is premature. The host has traditionally worked on a series of one-year agreements, a practice that offers flexibility uncommon in the television industry.
The announcement follows a recent guest-hosting stint by Rosie O'Donnell, whose four-night run reportedly boosted ratings. Insiders suggest that the decision to end the series is unrelated to Kimmel's past public disagreements with political figures, and is more likely tied to broader cost-cutting measures being implemented by Disney's new leadership.
Disney and ABC have also filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission, alleging that the agency's request to review the network's broadcasting licenses infringes on free-speech protections. The late-night landscape is undergoing changes, with CBS having recently concluded its "Late Show" hosted by Stephen Colbert.