Jimmy Kimmel celebrated the renewal of his contract with ABC by roasting President Donald Trump over a pair of recent events.
News broke on Monday afternoon that Kimmel has inked a new deal with ABC that will see him continue to host Jimmy Kimmel Live! through May 2027. Reporting by Bloomberg had sources claiming that the two parties had reached a deal “months ago” but held back on touting it out of respect for the cancellation of CBS rival Stephen Colbert’s Late Show.
The extension follows a rocky period for Kimmel, who was briefly taken off the air by Disney in September after remarks he made in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s killing.
Sources familiar with the Kimmel situation say the new agreement is widely viewed inside the network as a likely final chapter for JKL‘s two-decade run, though the host’s history of wavering over past renewals means nothing is certain.
Kimmel’s initial, public comment on the extension came via Instagram, where he wrote, “I am pleased to announce another no-talent year!”
Hours later, during Monday night’s JKL monologue, he expounded on the situation, saying, “Our show has been renewed until May of 2027, or until the world ends. Whichever comes first.”
Of his future in late night, “I gave it a lot of thought and decided I would like to spend less time with my family,” he joked.
Then, most sincerely, he said “to our audience and at home, I’m honored and humbled to be a part of your routine…. It means a lot to me to have your attention, and to work with this great group of people for another year, my coworkers.”
OF HONORS AND PRIZES
Kimmel also used Monday’s monologue to react to President Trump’s latest public display of confusion. At a medal ceremony for this weekend’s Kennedy Center honorees, Trump—who was the first sitting president to emcee the annual event—said, “I’ve watched some of the people that host. Jimmy Kimmel was horrible…. If I can’t beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent, then I don’t think I should be president.”
“I’m with ya,” Kimmel said coming out of that clip. “I don’t think I’ve ever agreed with anything more that.”
Kimmel, though, has never hosted the Kennedy Center Honors; his only prior involvement was a tribute to David Letterman during the 2012 ceremony.
“Do you think he knows [that]…?” Kimmel wondered aloud. “Maybe he’s confusing me with Queen Latifah.”
Kimmel had the most fun in Monday’s monologue taking shots at the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize that was bestowed on POTUS Friday, following months of Trump unsuccessfully lobbying for the (real) Nobel Peace Prize.
“It’s like if NASCAR started handing out Peabody Awards—it means nothing,” Kimmel started. Then, “It’s like masturbating and telling your friends you got laid this weekend.” Lastly, “It’s like a fat kid who gets a karate medal for breaking a piece of balsa wood.”
CBS is set to broadcast the Kennedy Center Honors Tuesday, December 23.
