Jimmy Kimmel may have secured another year behind the desk at his talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”. However, insiders claim the new deal signals something far more significant than a typical contract renewal. While ABC framed the extension as business as usual, sources suggest it quietly marks the beginning of the end for Kimmel’s two-decade reign in late-night television.
Jimmy Kimmel signed one-year extension for talk show ‘on purpose,’ per source
Jimmy Kimmel’s one-year talk show extension, confirmed by ABC earlier this month, immediately raised eyebrows. Multiple insiders are alleging that the unusually short deal wasn’t accidental. According to a source cited by Rob Shuter, Kimmel “signed that one-year extension on purpose,” claiming the host intends to wrap up his late-night tenure in 2027.
These sources say that privately, ABC executives are preparing to give the Emmy-winning host what they describe as a celebratory send-off after more than twenty years of monologues, viral sketches, and headline-stirring interviews. Another insider claims the network has internally nicknamed the coming season his “goodbye year.” What’s more, many staffers expect him to use the time to close out the show with a sense of spectacle.
Kimmel’s contract news came during an already turbulent chapter in his career. His vocal criticism of President Donald Trump triggered months of pointed social media attacks from Trump, who repeatedly urged ABC to fire him. Meanwhile, some viewers questioned whether Kimmel’s suspension earlier in the year would jeopardize the future of his show. Instead, ABC publicly backed the host, announcing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would remain on air until at least 2027.
Fans of the show celebrated the renewal across social platforms, praising the network for not caving to political pressure. Kimmel himself responded with characteristic humor, saying in a recent Christmas video, “We won, the President lost.”
Behind the scenes, however, sources say Kimmel is already thinking beyond late-night. Rumors suggest he’s interested in expanding into digital projects and cultural commentary without the nightly grind. One insider even claimed that Kimmel hopes to invite Trump as his final guest, a bold idea he reportedly views as the “ultimate finale” moment.
If these insider reports are accurate, May 2027 could mark Kimmel’s final bow, and the countdown has unofficially begun.
