Jimmy Kimmel Makes Powerful Sacrifice for Stephen Colbert Ahead of Emotional ‘Late Show’ Farewell

“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will be ending at the end of the month, with the final episode set for Thursday, May 21. And with that, another beloved late night show host is making a heartfelt gesture to show solidarity with Colbert.

During an appearance on Late Nighter on Monday, May 11, Jimmy Kimmel revealed that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!: will not produce a new episode that day “out of deference to Colbert’s sendoff.”

Instead, Kimmel will air a rerun at 11:30 p.m.

CBS Said The Reason For The Cancellation Was ‘Purely A Financial Decision’

The news that of the show’s cancellation was announced in July 2025, with CBS executives saying it was due to a “purely a financial decision.”

“This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.  It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount,” the network’s statement said

They added that they “consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire ‘The Late Show’ franchise at that time.”

“We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late-night television,” the statement also stated.

And with that, Colbert revealed exactly how he found out during an interview with GQ.

“They didn’t call me and tell me!” he said. “My manager told me.”

“They told him, and he told me,” he continued. “I was so tired. I was lying down on my couch with a pillow over my eyes going, ‘Hey, James, what’s going on?’ I was prone. And he said, ‘This is going to be the last season.’ So I sat up and was like, ‘Oh, okay. Well, that’s interesting. I did not expect that.’”

Stephen Colbert Has Received Tons of Support Since The News

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At the 2025 Emmys, there was a powerful moment that involved Colbert as the late-night host won an Emmy for Best Talk Series. And the reaction from the crowd said it all as the Peacock Theater erupted in its loudest cheers of the night, celebrating Colbert following news of the show’s cancellation. And with that, there were even, “Stephen! Stephen! Stephen!” cheers.

He even joked with the audience while accepting the award, asking, “But while I have your attention, is anyone hiring?”

““Because I’ve got 200 very well-qualified candidates with me here tonight who will be available in June,” he continued. “I also brought my very own resume here with me tonight. I haven’t had a chance to update my headshot in a bit, but I think it still works.” 

And with that, Colbert’s next project has already been revealed, as he is now co-writing a new film in the “Lord of the Rings” franchise with his son Peter McGee and veteran Philippa Boyens, who previously worked on both “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies. 

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