Jimmy Kimmel offers Stephen Colbert a guest-host role after cancellation

Jimmy Kimmel has publicly supported fellow comedian Stephen Colbert since “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” ended on May 21, 2026. CBS said the decision to end the program was financial, while critics questioned whether political considerations played a role.

Kimmel recently revealed that he invited Colbert to guest-host “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” during his summer hiatus. Colbert declined, and Kimmel said the timing felt premature. Kimmel added that Colbert remains welcome to host whenever he is ready.

Kimmel extends an open invitation to Colbert

Jimmy Kimmel confirmed in an interview with Variety that he invited Stephen Colbert to guest-host “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” during Kimmel’s summer hiatus. Colbert declined the offer, and Kimmel said he understood the timing felt premature so soon after “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” ended its run on CBS.

Kimmel told Colbert that he could take over the desk anytime, even outside the summer season, and that Kimmel would gladly step aside for him.

The open-ended invitation marks another public show of support from Kimmel for his friend, and the two hosts have continued to demonstrate solidarity throughout the upheaval surrounding both of their programs.

Colbert declines, but the invitation remains open

Stephen Colbert declined Jimmy Kimmel’s invitation to guest-host “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” during Kimmel’s summer hiatus. Kimmel described the timing as premature but said Colbert could host whenever he wished, even outside the summer season, and added that he would step aside for his friend at any time.

Kimmel’s open-ended invitation is another public display of support for Colbert, and the two hosts have repeatedly shown solidarity during the controversies surrounding their respective television programs.

Many in the industry view the gesture as a sign of unity among late-night hosts navigating similar pressures from their networks.

Late Show cancellation stirred industry controversy

CBS announced on July 17, 2025, that “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” would end after the 2025-26 broadcast season. The program aired its final episode in May 2026, closing out Colbert’s run as host, a position he had held since 2015.

Critics questioned the timing of the announcement, as Paramount’s proposed merger with Skydance was still awaiting regulatory approval when CBS announced the cancellation. Paramount and Skydance completed that merger on Aug. 7, 2025.

CBS said the cancellation was purely a financial decision, and while Colbert was a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, no conclusive public evidence has emerged to show that his political commentary caused the show’s ending.

CBS defended the decision as financial

CBS said its decision to end “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” was financial and reflected a challenging business environment for late-night television. The network said the decision was unrelated to the program’s performance, content, or other matters involving Paramount.

Critics, including prominent late-night figures and elected officials, questioned that explanation and pointed to the timing of Paramount’s then-pending merger with Skydance. However, no conclusive public evidence has established that political pressure caused CBS to end the program.

The controversy intensified discussion about corporate influence, political pressure, and editorial independence in television. The dispute added fuel to broader talk about media independence.

Fun fact: Jimmy Kimmel won the 2025 Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Game Show for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire“.

Kimmel faced his own suspension controversy

ABC suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Sept. 17, 2025, following criticism of Kimmel’s comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The decision prompted protests and criticism from entertainers, free-speech advocates, labor organizations, and political figures.

ABC ended the suspension after 6 days, and Kimmel returned to the program on Sept. 23. Stephen Colbert publicly celebrated Kimmel’s reinstatement and expressed support for Kimmel and the show’s staff.

The episode added to the visible professional solidarity between the two hosts, even though how much it changed their private friendship hasn’t been discussed publicly by either man.

Ratings surge after Kimmel’s return to air

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” posted the highest monthly ratings average of its 23-year run in June 2026, averaging 3.15 million viewers per night. That represented a 24% increase from May, and its audience among adults ages 18-49 rose 112% to 505,000 viewers.

Kimmel sarcastically thanked CBS for its “wisdom” in ending “The Late Show,” joking that the move had helped his ratings even though his program was already performing well beforehand.

He also noted that late-night television still draws a solid linear audience, even as many viewers increasingly watch clips on YouTube and other digital platforms.

Hosts united on each other’s shows

Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert appeared as guests on each other’s programs on Sept. 30, 2025, exactly 1 week after Kimmel returned from his suspension. The crossover marked the first time two competing late-night hosts had swapped shows on the same night.

The hosts discussed how they each learned that their programs had been pulled from the air or scheduled to end, trading jokes throughout the conversation.

The crossover publicly demonstrated solidarity between Kimmel and Colbert and included jabs at President Donald Trump, the FCC, and the network controversies surrounding both of their shows.

Guest hosts fill summer hiatus schedule

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is using rotating guest hosts during Jimmy Kimmel’s 2026 summer hiatus. Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, and Colman Domingo hosted episodes in July, while Anthony Anderson, Rosie O’Donnell, and Jelly Roll were announced for later appearances.

O’Donnell is scheduled to host for 1 week beginning Aug. 17. The rotating format allows the program to continue airing new episodes while Kimmel is away. The revolving format keeps the program fresh while Kimmel takes his break.

Kimmel also returned as host of ABC’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire“. Season 5 premiered July 22, 2026. The celebrity edition features pairs of contestants competing for up to $1 million in charity donations. He described hosting the game show as easier and far more relaxed than his usual work.

Little-known fact: Stephen Colbert was raised in Charleston, South Carolina, and is the youngest of 11 children.

TL;DR

• Jimmy Kimmel invited Stephen Colbert to guest-host “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” During Kimmel’s 2026 summer hiatus.
• Colbert declined, and Kimmel said the timing felt premature.
• Kimmel said the invitation remains open whenever Colbert is ready.
• CBS announced the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in July 2025, and the program ended in May 2026 amid continued political controversy.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” posted the highest monthly ratings average of its 23-year run in June 2026.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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