ABC Brushes Off ‘Inaccurate’ Report About ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Ending Next Year

ABC has dismissed a report claiming that "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will conclude following the current contract of host Jimmy Kimmel expiring in 2027. The network's statement to media was clear: "any reports about the future of the show at this point are purely speculative." This response arrives as Kimmel is set to return to the late-night program following his customary summer hiatus, during which ABC brings in various guest hosts to fill in, including Tiffany Haddish, Anthony Anderson, Ike Barinholtz, Colman Domingo, Rosie O'Donnell, and Jelly Roll.

Among these replacements, O'Donnell stood out with the highest average total viewership of 2.17 million and a demo viewership of 237,000 viewers during the week of August 17. In December 2025, Kimmel further extended his deal with Disney, ensuring his presence on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" until May 2027. This extension marked his 24th year on the air, having begun in 2003.

The contract extension came shortly after Kimmel made controversial remarks about the shooting of Charlie Kirk, which resulted in a week-long radio silence from him. During Disney's upfronts, Kimmel joked about being a "liability" for Disney, claiming he cost them "a lot of money this year, billions." Despite his lighthearted comment, Kimmel has previously hinted at his potential departure from late night.

In early 2024, he even stated, "I think this is my final contract," but acknowledged that his declarations of exit tend to be inaccurate. "I still have a little more than two years left on my contract, and that seems pretty good. That seems like enough," Kimmel added in the same year.