Veteran talk show host Jimmy Kimmel recently opened up about the grim future of late-night shows and said that he feels “defeated” by Stephen Colbert‘s cancellation. In a new interview, Kimmel emphasized that more people were watching late-night talk shows than ever before. However, he feels that the format is being “poisoned.”
Jimmy Kimmel discusses the future of late-night TV
Jimmy Kimmel, one of the most recognizable late-night television hosts, recently sat down with Vulture for an interview, where he discussed the future of late-night television. Kimmel also spoke about the cancellation of Colbert’s show by CBS. Some commentators and viewers have speculated that the decision was connected to Colbert’s criticism of Paramount. Paramount is CBS’s parent company.
CBS has stated that financial considerations were the reason for the cancellation. However, debate surrounding the decision has continued.
Kimmel insisted that “there are far more people watching late-night TV than there ever were, if you look at the number of views me and my colleagues get online every day and add in our linear-television ratings.” He added that it was “silly” to describe the format as less relevant. Kimmel further stated, “We’re not just dying of natural causes. We’re being poisoned.”
Kimmel recalled that ABC offered him a one-year contract last year rather than the three-year agreements he had typically received in the past. “Everything is so tumultuous. That seemed to make sense,” he said. “It’s definitely not how it’s gone in the past.”
Kimmel also noted that fewer than 12 months remain on his current contract. He said he is uncertain about what comes next.
Reflecting on the industry, Kimmel suggested that circumstances appeared different just a few years ago. He said, “Am I to believe that over the course of those two years, they suddenly started losing $40 million a year? These are just made-up numbers.”
Financial performance has been cited as the reason for the cancellation of Colbert’s show. Discussing CBS’s decision to end The Late Show, Kimmel said, “I feel a little bit defeated by it. In a lot of ways, I feel like I’m looking at my own future.”
Kimmel has also been a vocal critic of Donald Trump. Separately, some supporters of the administration have called for his show to be canceled.
Originally reported by Sourav Chakraborty on ComingSoon.
