Overview
- Kimmel said on Instagram that he will continue hosting, with the new ABC agreement extending his run from a May 2026 expiration to May 2027.
- People familiar with the deal told outlets that Disney and Kimmel finalized the one-year extension over the summer, with reports saying the announcement was delayed out of respect for Stephen Colbert.
- ABC briefly suspended the show in September after Kimmel’s monologue about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as major affiliate owners Nexstar and Sinclair preempted broadcasts.
- Kimmel’s return drew about 6.3 million TV viewers and more than 26 million social views for his monologue, according to Disney and network reports.
- FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly criticized the segment and suggested potential remedies, and Reuters reports he is set to testify on Dec. 17 before the Senate Commerce Committee following bipartisan criticism of his pressure on broadcasters.