Jimmy Kimmel announced on Wednesday that he would be taking Thursday night off to show respect for Stephen Colbert and the team behind The Late Show, which is airing its final episode. Kimmel expressed his feelings about the cancellation, stating, "I think you know how I feel about the fact that they are being pushed out." He added, "I hope the people who did the pushing feel ashamed of themselves tonight, although I know they probably won't."
No Rivalry Between Kimmel and Colbert
Kimmel emphasized that he never viewed Colbert as a competitor, despite their shows airing simultaneously on rival networks. The two hosts have frequently appeared on each other's programs, and on Wednesday night, Kimmel invited Colbert to return "as many times as possible."
A Fond Farewell
"On behalf of everyone at our show, we want to say to everyone at your show, it has been a pleasure to work alongside you," Kimmel said. He revealed that he would be watching Colbert's final episode on Thursday and encouraged his audience to do the same, but with a caveat. "I hope that those of you who watch our show will also tune in to CBS — for the last time," he urged. "Don't ever watch it again, but watch tomorrow night to wish Stephen and our friends at The Late Show a fond farewell."
Controversy Surrounding the Cancellation
CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show last summer, coinciding with repeated demands from Donald Trump and as corporate parent Paramount sought FCC approval for a merger, which was granted a week later. The network claimed Colbert's show, despite leading its time slot in ratings, was losing $40 million annually. However, Kimmel previously dismissed this as "obvious lies" on the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast, stating, "There's no way it's even close to that. I know how finances of late night television shows work, and it's just ridiculous. It doesn't make any sense at all."
