

Jimmy Kimmel will stay on as host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! for at least one more year, inking a new contract with Disney’s ABC on Monday, CNN reports. A source told the outlet that the contract will allow the late night comedian to continue his show through May 2027.
In an Instagram post published Monday night, Kimmel quipped, “I am pleased to announce another no-talent year!” referring of course to President Donald Trump’s frequent attacks on the host, who has made fun of the President on a regular basis as part of his routine.
Kimmel recently found himself in hot water over comments he made after the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in which he said “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it.”
The comments prompted ABC to briefly suspend his show after an outcry from conservative commentators that reached even the highest echelons of government, with Trump’s FCC chairman Brendan Carr criticizing Kimmel’s remarks in what many saw as a threat to pull ABC station licenses.
Nexstar and Sinclair, two large operators of ABC affiliates, also briefly preempted Kimmel’s program on their stations, a stance that lasted only five days until September 26, when both operators announced that they would allow the show to return.
The show ultimately returned on September 22 when ABC lifted the suspension after Kimmel’s discussions with the network and parent company Disney, where he holds close relationships with top brass.
The controversy proved to be new territory even for Kimmel, who has often attracted negative attention from Trump and his supporters for his scathing criticisms of the president’s behavior and policies.
However, according to CNN, he is a cherished commodity in the late night space, especially in Los Angeles, where he is the only comedian in the city to host a late night show. His friendliness with many of the city’s resident stars and performers proved to be too formidable a force for ABC to continue his suspension.
Kimmel’s current contract will take him through the end of this year’s season, which ends May 2026, per CNN. It remains to be seen whether the recent controversies surrounding him will breathe new life into his long-running career, or if it will prove to be the beginning of the end for a host who has publicly grappled with the decision to continue his show.
Besides Live!, Kimmel has a long relationship with ABC, hosting the Oscars four times and recently winning an Emmy for the network’s 2020 season of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
