The back and forth between President Donald Trump and most of the individuals on the late night scene is pretty legendary at this point. Trump’s been candid about being happy after Stephen Colbert’s Late Show wrapped, even staying up until 2 a.m. to post he was happy the man with “No talent, no ratings, no life” was “finally finished” at CBS. He’s taken shots at Seth Meyers, who has said he knows the President wants late night cancelled. And there is no love lost between The White House and Jimmy Kimmel, either.
Kimmel was recently asked about how he feels about the status of late night, and to be honest, he doesn’t sound particularly bullish. When THR asked him what it “will take to save the future of late night television,” he gave a very succinct response. In fact, it was eight words about the current administration.
A different president would be a good start.
This isn’t even close to the first time Kimmel has joked about the Trump administration, particularly given the implications of what was going on behind-the scenes during his brief suspension. Or his and parent network ABC’s dealings with the FCC afterwards.
So, What Is Going On With Late Night?
There’s no question the TV landscape is shifting and late night television has seen maybe the most sweeping change in recent years. It all probably started back in 2021 when Conan O’Brien said goodbye to late night on TBS. A couple of years later, James Corden followed suit, with CBS wrapping The Late Late Show in April of 2023. Perhaps we should have seen the writing on the wall then with late night, but I never really considered the possibility the big late night behemoths could get canceled in my lifetime.
A report that came out after the Stephen Colbert cancelation announcement has indicated late night revenue is way, way down in recent years. The report about the late night revenue stated it had dropped from $439 million in 2018 to just $220 million in 2024. Presumably, the numbers have fallen even more in the years since.
If late night were to end, Kimmel would be fine. The man has a good relationship with ABC, and currently also makes time to host Who Wants to be a Millionaire. He really believes in Millionaire, too. But it doesn’t sound like Jimmy Kimmel Live! getting unceremoniously canceled is anywhere near the outcome he wants, either.
There is some light at the end of the tunnel. Since The Late Show ended on CBS, the ratings for the Jimmys have ticked up. This has particularly been true of Kimmel’s show. Fallon tends to be less political on the air, and the appetite right now seems to indicate people want what Jimmy Kimmel is selling, and Kimmel is often selling the viewpoint that our administration is attacking free speech and “poisoning” late night. So, I'm not particularly surprised his response to what it will take to “save late night” follows that bent, as well.
