Jimmy Kimmel, the veteran host of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” is reportedly contemplating retirement when his current contract expires next year. After over two decades of late-night television dominance, Kimmel’s departure would leave a major vacancy in the late-night landscape, and speculation is already heating up about who might fill his shoes.
Kimmel, who has been the face of late-night TV since 2003, recently hinted at his possible retirement in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. The 56-year-old comedian acknowledged that his current contract might very well be his last. “I think this is my final contract. I hate to even say it because everyone laughs at me when I think it’s going to be my last, and then it turns out not to be,” Kimmel confessed. He continued, “I still have a little more than two years left on my contract, and that seems pretty good. That seems like enough.”
The workload has evidently taken its toll on Kimmel. He described the intense pressure of the job, especially the demands of preparing for events like the Oscars. “Wednesday night, I was very tired and had all these scripts to go through. I was literally nodding off onto my computer,” he said, illustrating the exhaustion that comes with his role.
Yet, Kimmel admitted that while the idea of stepping away from the spotlight might seem appealing during the toughest moments, the reality of retirement is not always as glamorous. “In those moments, I think, ‘I cannot wait until my contract is over.’ But then, I take the summer off or I go on strike, and you start going, ‘Yeah, I miss the fun stuff,’” he added.
As Kimmel’s potential exit looms, speculation about his successor is already buzzing. One prominent name has emerged as a leading contender: Stephen A. Smith, the outspoken ESPN host known for his no-holds-barred approach. In an interview with Sean Hannity, Smith expressed his interest in the late-night slot. “I am interested in doing late night,” Smith declared. “I would love to be the heir apparent to Jimmy Kimmel. I believe I could do it.” Smith, who is known for his sharp political commentary, suggested that his unique approach would bring a fresh perspective to late-night television. “My politics would throw people off because I’d be fair to everybody and I’d listen to everybody. It wouldn’t be one-sided,” he explained.
The potential shake-up in late-night TV comes amid a backdrop of ongoing tension between Kimmel and former President Donald Trump. Trump has frequently criticized Kimmel’s hosting, even suggesting that Kimmel’s departure might be beneficial. In a scathing remark, Trump suggested that Kimmel’s departure would be a step up, jokingly proposing that the show might benefit from replacing Kimmel with “another washed-up, but cheap, ABC ‘talent’” like George Stephanopoulos.
As the late-night landscape braces for possible changes, the industry will be watching closely to see who will step into the spotlight if Kimmel decides to call it quits. Whether it will be Stephen A. Smith or another candidate remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the future of late-night television is poised for a dramatic shift.
