Full Breakdown
Jimmy Kimmel Announces Two-Month Summer Break and Guest-Host Lineup, Including Rosie O’Donnell
6/19/2026, 9:35:14 PM
Summer Break Announcement and Guest-Host Roster
Jimmy Kimmel told his studio audience that he will be off “the next two months” after his final Thursday telecast. ABC confirmed a rotating roster of guest hosts: Tiffany Haddish (week of July 6), followed by Anthony Anderson, Ike Barinholtz, Colman Domingo, Jelly Roll, and Rosie O’Donnell. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.
History of Summer Guest Hosts
Kimmel began using summer stand-ins in 2020, featuring personalities such as Chelsea Handler, Martin Short, Kumail Nanjiani, RuPaul and Ryan Reynolds. The 2025 lineup added Diego Luna, Nicole Byer, Alan Cumming, Chris Distefano and Fortune Feimster. The tradition lets the program continue while Kimmel takes his annual vacation.
Key Figures and Their Roles
- Jimmy Kimmel – host, executive producer, announced the break.
- Tiffany Haddish – comedian, first guest host of the summer.
- Anthony Anderson – actor, most frequent guest host (24 episodes).
- Ike Barinholtz – actor, first-time guest host; 2024 “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” $1 million winner with his father.
- Colman Domingo – actor, SNL host (April) and “Bottomless Brunch at Colman’s” talk-show host.
- Jelly Roll – musician, returned after two episodes in July 2025.
- Rosie O’Donnell – comedian and former talk-show host, added as a “special treat for the commander-in-chief.”
- Donald Trump – former president, long-time critic of O’Donnell.
- Matt Damon – actor, cameo promoting “The Odyssey.”
Schedule Timeline
- July 6 – July 12: Tiffany Haddish.
- Subsequent weeks: Anthony Anderson, Ike Barinholtz, Colman Domingo, Jelly Roll (order confirmed by ABC).
- Rosie O’Donnell’s exact week not disclosed; sources differ on scheduling.
Data & Statistics
- “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has aired for over 23 years.
- Anthony Anderson has hosted 24 episodes, the most among guest hosts.
- The summer roster includes six distinct personalities.
Political and Cultural Impact
Kimmel’s selection of O’Donnell explicitly references his “feud” with President Trump, noting, “as a special treat for our commander-in-chief.” O’Donnell has publicly labeled Trump a “snake-oil salesman” and a “psychopath” for years. Trump responded on Truth Social with a doctored image and a statement about revoking O’Donnell’s citizenship. The show was briefly pulled from the air in September 2025 after a dispute involving the Trump administration, underscoring the political stakes of the lineup.
Official Statements & Responses
Kimmel’s monologue included, “Well, I hope you’re paying attention this summer because I will be taking the next two months off,” and “And all I ask in return, Mr. President, is that you don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.” ABC’s press release listed the guest-host lineup and confirmed executive producers Jimmy Kimmel, Erin Irwin, Molly McNearney, Jennifer Sharron, David Craig, with co-executive producers Douglas DeLuca and Danny Ricker. Production credits note 12:05 AM Productions LLC, Kimmelot and 20th Television.
Criticism & Opposition
Donald Trump’s Truth Social post read, “We are giving serious thought to taking away Rosie O’Donnell’s citizenship. She is not a Great American…” O’Donnell’s own commentary on Trump includes, “If you grew up in New York, you knew he was an a-----e and a liar from day one.” Critics argue the guest-host choice politicizes a traditionally entertainment-focused program.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise week O’Donnell will appear; some list her among the summer hosts without a date, while others note the schedule remains “unclear.” Additionally, while Kimmel’s monologue frames the O’Donnell booking as a “treat for the commander-in-chief,” ABC’s official release does not mention the political framing.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Well, I hope you’re paying attention this summer because I will be taking the next two months off,” — Jimmy Kimmel, Host
- “And all I ask in return, Mr. President, is that you don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.” — Jimmy Kimmel, Host
- “Left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair. Had kids both times,” — Rosie O’Donnell, Comedian
- “We are giving serious thought to taking away Rosie O’Donnell’s citizenship. She is not a Great American and is, in my opinion, incapable of being so!” — Donald Trump, Truth Social
- “I have traveled far and wide, through waves and war, to save this audience from mediocrity,” — Matt Damon, Actor
- “If you grew up in New York, you knew he was an a-----e and a liar from day one,“ she told Variety.” — Rosie O’Donnell, Comedian
What’s Next
The summer rotation continues through mid-August, after which Kimmel is slated to return. Matt Damon’s cameo promotes “The Odyssey,” set for release July 17. Viewers can watch new episodes on ABC or the following day on Hulu.
