OH NO!
The show is yet another to cut back on the essential late-night feature
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is axing one of its most iconic segments in yet another hit to the embattled series.
The latest move joins a troubling trend as many late-night shows downsize due to budget cuts.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! will reduce the amount of musical guests to twice per week, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Sources said Kimmel music producer Jim Pitt did not give a reason for the change.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show were the last two late-night shows consistently booking musical guests.
NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers rarely has musical performances in recent years, and the show axed its house band fronted by Fred Armisen in 2024 due to budget cuts.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert had also reduced the number of musical guests over the years, even before it was announced the show would be cancelled by CBS.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is not expected to get shorter, and it’s unclear what will fill the time slot, THR reported.
Sources also told Deadline that two musical sets per week is not a hard number.
Pitt and Kimmel booker Mac Burrus spoke to the music site Consequence last year about the importance of keeping the show’s musical segments.
as been a priority at Jimmy Kimmel from day one,” Burrus said.
“He’s always championed late night in its classic form, being a huge fan of Letterman.”
The move comes just months after the ABC show was briefly taken off the air because of Jimmy’s remarks on the death of Charlie Kirk.
The show was pulled off the air by Disney, which owns ABC, after Jimmy said Republicans were “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
Current Late-Night Shows
Late-night shows have become a staple on American television, filled with humorous takes on news, interviews with guests, and music performances.
- Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC
- Late Night with Seth Meyers, NBC
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, NBC
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS
- After Midnight, CBS
- Watch What Happens Live, Bravo
- The Daily Show, Comedy Central
- Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO
Jimmy referenced the suspension when the show won a Critics Choice Award for best talk series on Sunday.
In his acceptance speech, Jimmy called out Donald Trump and Disney’s co-chair Dana Walden, along with thanking the industry for their support.
“Thanks to all the writers and actors and producers and union members, many of you who are in this room, who supported us, who really stepped forward us and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or in this country,” he said.
“Your actions were important, and we appreciate them.”
