Overview
- The Nov. 17 broadcast opened with the house band identified as The Cletones, dropping Cleto Escobedo III’s name for the first time in the show’s two-decade run, according to LateNighter.
- Production paused on Nov. 12 and 13 after Kimmel’s emotional on-air tribute on Nov. 11 to his lifelong friend and bandleader.
- Escobedo’s death certificate listed cardiogenic shock with vasodilatory shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and alcoholic cirrhosis as underlying causes.
- Two memorial fundraisers launched by Kimmel are active, benefiting UCLA Health for patient support and The Animal Foundation in Las Vegas to honor Escobedo’s love of rescue animals.
- ABC has not announced further changes to the show’s music department or a new bandleader for the renamed ensemble.