Jimmy Kimmel no longer talks about the future of late-night TV as a distant industry problem.
The show's host Jimmy Kimmel Live! stated that the latest issue Late Show starring Stephen Colbert made him feel like he'd witnessed a version of his own ending. In a new piece for Vulture, Kimmel dismissed the idea that late-night talk shows are simply fading because viewers have moved on.
«"We're not just dying of natural causes. We're being poisoned," Kimmel said.
Last Night On also discussed comments related to Kimmel's insecurity about ABC, arguing that Colbert's departure made the future of late-night talk shows on the network less stable for everyone still behind the desk.
Kimmel said Colbert's departure was taken personally.
Kimmel didn't view Colbert's final episode as a simple segue into the next episode of the late-night show.
«"In a lot of ways, I feel like I'm looking into my own future," he told Vulture.
This phrase is the most poignant moment of the interview. Kimmel isn't claiming that late-night talk shows aren't struggling. He argues that the format still attracts viewers, given online video alongside traditional television ratings, while corporate caution, political pressure, and the changing economic climate are making the business more vulnerable.
The cancellation of Colbert's show has already sparked controversy due to its timing. CBS said the decision to cancel «The Late Show» was motivated by financial considerations, but the move came at a time when the Paramount-Skydance merger was under intense public scrutiny, and after years of Colbert's on-air criticism of Donald Trump.
Kimmel questioned the financial explanation, pointing to reports that CBS had urged Colbert to consider a contract extension in 2023 before ultimately canceling the show. His argument wasn't that the economics of late-night talk shows are generally healthy, but that the explanation for Colbert's departure didn't quite fit his story.
His own contract with ABC only runs until 2027.
Kimmel's uncertainty isn't just about Colbert.
The ABC host signed a one-year deal with Disney in December 2025, which will see the show Jimmy Kimmel Live! will air on the channel until May 2027. ABC News confirmed the renewal at the time.
This shorter contract term differed from the longer deals Kimmel typically signed. In an interview with Vulture, he stated that the television business felt too volatile for his usual rhythm, and that a one-year extension made sense under the current circumstances.
Kimmel also claimed that ABC had told him his show would remain profitable. However, in an interview with Vulture, he said contract negotiations hadn't yet begun, which is usually the case by now.
That's why the end of Colbert's show hit so hard. Kimmel still has a year left, but now the calendar matters. His next contract decision is no longer an abstract industry question; it's already close enough to impact how he talks about the show.
He has been contemplating his departure for many years.
Image courtesy of Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock.
Kimmel's hesitation is nothing new.
In an interview with Vulture, he said he once thought he would end his show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"« During Joe Biden's presidency, the show continued, but Kimmel has increasingly spoken openly about the possibility that he might not want to remain at the table forever.
His longtime producer, Erin Irwin, told Vulture that Kimmel had been talking about leaving for some time and hoped to stay until the 2028 presidential election. She also acknowledged that he was tired.
Kimmel's situation is complicated by the people surrounding him. He spent years building a team of close friends and family members, including his wife, executive producer, and head writer Molly McNearney. His departure will not only mark the end of the show he's hosted since 2003 but will also affect the people who created it alongside him.
Evening talk shows are running out of their usual hosts.
Colbert's departure changed the balance of power in late-night television.
Vulture noted that Kimmel is now the longest-serving and most prominent host still hosting a daily live show in a studio, regularly criticizing influential political figures. Seth Meyers remains on NBC, and Jimmy Fallon continues to host. «The Tonight Show» , John Oliver is on HBO, and «The Daily Show» works in a different direction, on Comedy Central.
But the old structure of NBC's late-night talk shows no longer looks as sustainable as it once did. Colbert is gone. NBC has cut some parts of the program. «"Late Night with Seth Meyers"» . Fallon's show is facing ratings pressure. Kimmel is still working, but his latest interview makes it clear he doesn't consider his position guaranteed.
At the moment, show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"« He still has a year left on ABC. Kimmel hasn't announced his retirement plans yet, and ABC hasn't announced an end date for his current contract.
The most tense moment is the expiration of his contract. Kimmel's summer vacation begins after the NBA Finals, and, as Vulture reported, negotiations, which typically begin by the end of May, have never begun. With Colbert's departure from CBS, Kimmel is entering his final guaranteed year at ABC, and the fate of his job remains uncertain.