Jimmy Kimmel is clearing the stage for Stephen Colbert's final bow. On Thursday, May 21, the ABC late-night host will air a rerun of Jimmy Kimmel Live! rather than a new episode, deferring to Colbert's last show on CBS, according to industry site LateNighter.
The move mirrors Kimmel's decision a decade ago, when he also aired a repeat on the night of David Letterman's final Late Show in 2015. That earlier gesture, noted by the same outlet, underscores a tradition of collegiality among late-night rivals.
Kimmel will still produce new episodes earlier in the week, ensuring his audience gets fresh content before Colbert's sendoff. The decision comes amid a broader shake-up in late-night television, with CBS yet to name a permanent replacement for Colbert.
The late-night landscape has been roiled by speculation over Colbert's successor. David Letterman, Colbert's predecessor, recently called CBS 'lying weasels' over the show's cancellation and predicted the end of traditional late-night TV. Colbert himself has deflected questions about his replacement, joking about Letterman in interviews.
Kimmel's gesture also comes against a backdrop of political controversy surrounding his own show. The host has been embroiled in a feud with former President Donald Trump, sparked by a joke Kimmel made at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Trump later called for Kimmel's firing, a demand that drew rebukes from figures like Megyn Kelly and Representative James Comer.
The FCC has also been drawn into the fray, with Chairman Brendan Carr denying White House pressure in a Disney license review, while a Democratic FCC commissioner accused Trump of targeting ABC over the jokes. Kimmel has struck back at Trump as the feud escalated.
Despite the political heat, Kimmel's decision to air a rerun for Colbert signals a moment of unity in a competitive industry. For one night, the late-night wars will take a back seat to a colleague's farewell.
