Jimmy Kimmel‘s programming advisory about the JKL rerun that will air Thursday opposite Stephen Colbert‘s Late Show series finale came with some strong words for CBS.
At the top of Wednesday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, he reminded viewers, “We will be off tomorrow night, out of respect for our colleague and friend Stephen Colbert, and the writers, producers, and staff and crew at The Late Show, whose final show on CBS airs opposite ours.”
Alluding to The Late Show‘s cancellation last July in the wake of Colbert calling CBS’ $16 million lawsuit settlement with President Trump “a big, fat bribe,” Kimmel said, “I think you know how I feel about the fact that they’re being pushed out. I hope the people who did the pushing feel ashamed of themselves tonight—although I know they probably won’t.”
Kimmel went on to share very gracious words about his longtime friend and across-the-dial rival, commending “the great work [The Late Show] did over the last 11 years, and all the great work [Stephen] will continue to do in other venues, I have no doubt.”
Surveying the late-night landscape of recent years, “We never felt like we were competing against them, it was nothing like the old days of late night,” Kimmel said. “I always loved being on Stephen’s show, I loved having him on ours…. I hope we’re able to do that again. I hope he comes to visit as many times as possible.”
Kimmel said that he will be watching Colbert and The Late Show franchise’s Thursday night send-off, and “I hope that those of you who watch our show will also tune in to CBS, for the last time.
“Don’t ever watch [CBS] again,” he added, “but watch tomorrow night to wish Stephen and our friends at The Late Show a fond farewell.”
Kimmel then started his actual monologue with a perfect segue—”Now let’s talk about the asshole who forced them off the air”—and started in on Trump’s IRS “settlement”/$1.8 billion slush fund creation.
Watch Kimmel’s opening remarks and full monologue in the video at top.
