Jimmy Kimmel Airs Rerun as Stephen Colbert’s Final Late Show Approaches

On May 21 2024, ABC will broadcast a repeat of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” instead of a new episode. Kimmel confirmed he will step aside for Stephen Colbert’s final “Late Show” on CBS, leaving NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” as the only live competitor in the 11:30 p.m. slot.

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CBS announced in July 2023 that “The Late Show” would end for a “purely financial decision,” saying the move was unrelated to ratings, content, or the Paramount merger. Stephen Colbert had hosted since 2015, succeeding David Letterman, who began the franchise in 1993. Colbert’s criticism of Paramount’s settlement in the 60 Minutes lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump preceded the cancellation, fueling speculation about political pressure. Kimmel’s 2024 choice mirrors his 2015 decision to air a rerun on Letterman’s final night.

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The gesture shows rare collegiality in a competitive slot and may shape future network scheduling of milestone events. It also illustrates how financial decisions and political contexts can intersect with programming, as CBS’s cancellation coincided with Colbert’s political commentary.

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CBS called the cancellation a “purely financial decision” and said it was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.” Kimmel confirmed via LateNighter his show will air a repeat. NBC said “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” will air a new episode opposite the finale.

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Commentators linked the timing of CBS’s cancellation to Colbert’s criticism of Paramount’s settlement in the Trump-initiated lawsuit, suggesting possible pressure from the Trump administration to facilitate the pending merger. No network official has confirmed such influence.

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CBS attributes the cancellation solely to financial factors, while speculation persists that political considerations played a role; no concrete evidence has been presented.

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• “No, I never imagined that we’d ever have a president like this, and I hope we don’t ever have another president like this again,” — Jimmy Kimmel, Host of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*

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• “I never even imagined there would ever be a situation in which the president of our country was celebrating hundreds of Americans losing their jobs. But somebody who took pleasure in that — that to me is the absolute opposite of what a leader of this country is supposed to be.” — Jimmy Kimmel, Host of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*

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• “purely financial decision,” — CBS statement

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• “It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.” — CBS statement

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Colbert’s final broadcast is scheduled for May 21, marking the end of an 11-year run on CBS. NBC will continue its regular schedule with a new episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Industry observers will note how networks manage future milestone events.

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