Jimmy Kimmel hints at big finish as talk show era faces decline

Jimmy Kimmel is reportedly weighing up a dramatic exit from his long-running chat show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and insiders say he’s tempted to go out in a “blaze of glory”.

The 58-year-old US comedian’s current deal with Disney-owned ABC runs until 2027, but unusually it was only extended for one year rather than the standard three, sparking fresh doubts over the show’s long-term future after more than two decades on air.

Kimmel has openly admitted he’s been thinking about how he’ll eventually say goodbye, but insists he doesn’t want to make it all about himself.

He told Vulture, “It’s important to me to be responsible. I know I could go out in a blaze of glory and get a lot of applause for it, but it would be a very selfish thing to do.”

The TV host added that the industry feels increasingly unstable, saying the short contract extension reflected “tumultuous” times in late-night television.

His comments come shortly after fellow US talk show host Stephen Colbert aired his final Late Show episode following cancellation by CBS, officially blamed on financial pressures.

However, Kimmel has suggested there may be deeper issues affecting the genre, arguing that audiences are not disappearing but simply shifting online.

He also remains a controversial figure in US politics, frequently clashing with Donald Trump and the former First Lady Melania Trump over his on-air jokes.

Trump has repeatedly criticised Kimmel on social media, while Melania previously branded his comments “corrosive”, accusing him of crossing the line from comedy into personal attacks.

He has defended his humour as “light roast”, insisting his jokes are often misunderstood and taken too seriously.

Despite the backlash, Jimmy Kimmel Live! continues to air, but with uncertainty looming.

Fans are now wondering whether the show will end with a bang, a whisper, or something in between.

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