Stephen Colbert reacted with both humor and heartfelt praise to Jimmy Kimmel’s sudden exit from ABC, highlighting the tensions over politics and ratings that may have fueled the move, while warning that his departure marks a bittersweet turning point for the future of late-night television.
Late-night television was thrown into chaos last week when Jimmy Kimmel confirmed he would be stepping away from his longtime perch at ABC, ending an era that has spanned more than two decades.
The shockwaves from his departure are still reverberating through Hollywood, and one of the first to weigh in publicly was fellow late-night titan Stephen Colbert, who used his platform to reflect, joke, and even raise a few pointed questions about what Kimmel’s exit really means for the future of the medium.
Colbert, host of The Late Show on CBS, opened his Thursday night monologue by addressing what he called “the elephant in the room that just left the zoo.
” With a wry smile, he told the audience, “Jimmy Kimmel has walked away from ABC.
I don’t know if that means late night has lost a king or if ABC has just lost its sense of humor.”
The line drew laughter, but Colbert quickly shifted to a more personal tone, acknowledging the enormous footprint Kimmel has left in television comedy.
“Love him or not, Jimmy is one of the guys who helped reinvent late-night,” Colbert continued.
“He brought a different energy— irreverent, sharp, and sometimes chaotic— but always authentic. That’s rare.
The announcement of Kimmel’s departure came abruptly, with ABC issuing a brief press release that praised the comedian’s “immeasurable contributions” but declined to specify whether he left voluntarily or was pushed amid reported tension with network executives.
Industry insiders suggest declining ratings and shifting priorities at Disney-owned ABC may have played a role.
Kimmel, who has never shied away from political satire or controversial topics, was said to have clashed with higher-ups over the show’s increasingly sharp commentary in recent years.
Colbert, for his part, couldn’t resist poking fun at that speculation.
“If ABC thought Jimmy was too political, wait until they meet the next generation of late-night hosts,” he quipped.
“They’ll be live-streaming from TikTok while impeaching the president in real time.”
The joke earned a thunderous reaction from his studio audience, many of whom seemed to share Colbert’s skepticism about whether the network has a clear plan for the post-Kimmel era.
The CBS host also recalled a more personal memory: “I remember back in 2016, we were both backstage at an Emmy event, and Jimmy leaned over and said, ‘We’re all just renting these jobs until the networks decide they want a cooking show instead.’ I thought he was kidding.
Turns out, maybe he wasn’t.”
Kimmel’s absence leaves a massive vacuum in the late-night lineup, one that will reshape the cultural battlefield he helped define.
Since launching Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2003, the comedian has weathered controversies, staged countless viral pranks, and interviewed some of the world’s biggest stars.
He became a fixture of American pop culture, known for his emotional monologues about issues like healthcare and gun violence, often blurring the line between comedy and activism.
Colbert highlighted that legacy during his segment, saying, “We live in a time when people don’t just watch late night for jokes.
They watch to feel like someone is telling the truth— with a laugh.
Jimmy was one of the few who could really pull that off.
That’s not just a skill. That’s a gift.”
Behind the scenes, speculation about Kimmel’s next move is already rampant.
Some reports suggest he may be considering a streaming partnership, while others point to film production and stand-up tours.
Colbert cheekily hinted at his own theory, telling viewers, “If you think Jimmy’s retiring, you don’t know Jimmy.
He’ll be back— maybe on Netflix, maybe on a podcast, maybe running for mayor of Las Vegas.
Who knows?”
For now, ABC remains tight-lipped about a replacement, fueling even more speculation in the industry.
Names like Trevor Noah, Amber Ruffin, and even former Daily Show correspondent Samantha Bee are being floated, but nothing is official.
Meanwhile, Colbert ended his commentary on a mix of humor and sincerity.
“Jimmy, if you’re watching this— and let’s be honest, you probably are— thank you for everything you gave us.
And if you’re not watching, then I’ve just been talking to myself on CBS again, which is not unusual.”
The late-night landscape has always been competitive, but it has rarely faced a shakeup of this magnitude.
With Kimmel’s departure, networks are under mounting pressure to attract younger audiences who are increasingly turning to streaming and social media for their comedy fix.
Whether Colbert’s words prove prophetic about Kimmel’s eventual return remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the end of this chapter is only the beginning of a much bigger story in the battle for America’s bedtime laughter.
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