Jimmy Kimmel to Skip Episode on Night of Stephen Colbert's Final Late Show

Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," will go dark the night of fellow host Stephen Colbert's final program on May 21.

Colbert's "The Late Show" wraps up Thursday, May 21. Kimmel and Colbert occupy different time slots, but Kimmel told LateNighter he will skip a new episode that night. He took the same step in 2015 for David Letterman's finale.

Kimmel joins Seth Meyers, John Oliver and Jimmy Fallon as guests on Colbert's show Monday night.

ABC extended Jimmy Kimmel's contract another year after a dramatic network saga.

CBS announced in 2025 it would cancel "The Late Show" at the end of its May season, citing financial reasons. Many politicians and commentators at the time pointed to pressure from the Trump administration.

Colbert told The Hollywood Reporter there is no definitive proof of political motives, but he called it the most likely explanation. He noted the traditional broadcast model faces trouble in a changing media environment. "There are many people who believe there was another reason," he said. "And, as I said in the most measured tones I could muster, there is a reason why people believe that. The network had clearly already done it once by cutting that $16 million check [to the Trump administration]."

Colbert added that his cancellation reinforced a narrative of CBS bending the knee. "Even their lawyers said there was no reason to cut the check, and then they did and gave no rationale for why they changed their minds. And then, suddenly, they got their broadcast license."

Entertainment figures and politicians have paid tribute to Colbert in final show appearances. Former President Barack Obama sat for an early May interview, where he said the liberal host could make a better president than Trump.

Late Nighter reported Jimmy Fallon's show will air as scheduled on May 21.