You've probably seen the headlines or the frantic social media posts. Every few months, like clockwork, a rumor starts swirling that ABC finally pulled the plug on Jimmy Kimmel. People get worked up. They start arguing about ratings or politics or whether late-night TV is basically a relic of the past. Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of.
But if you’re looking for a simple answer to did ABC pull Jimmy Kimmel, the reality is a bit more complicated than a "yes" or "no." While the show is still very much on the air in 2026, there was a massive, high-stakes moment where he was actually sidelined. It wasn't just a vacation. It was a genuine suspension that had the whole industry wondering if he was done for good.
The Suspension That Shook Late Night
Back in September 2025, things got incredibly messy. Usually, when a host goes missing, it’s for a summer hiatus or a holiday. This wasn't that. ABC actually suspended Jimmy Kimmel indefinitely after some monologue comments he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The backlash was swift and, frankly, pretty intense. It wasn't just people on Twitter getting mad. Major affiliate owners—we’re talking big players like Sinclair and Nexstar—actually refused to air the show on their stations. When your local news ends and the guy who’s supposed to be there isn't, people notice. For about nine days, it really looked like the "did ABC pull Jimmy Kimmel" question had a permanent "yes" attached to it.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr even got involved, issuing some pretty stern warnings about the rhetoric on the show. It felt like a perfect storm. Kimmel himself later admitted to Stephen Colbert that he thought he was finished. He basically told his staff he didn't think he was coming back.
Why the Show is Still Running Today
So, why are we still seeing him at 11:35 p.m.? Well, Disney (which owns ABC) eventually blinked. After a week of massive pressure from Hollywood—everyone from Robert De Niro to Jennifer Aniston signed an ACLU letter defending him—the network ended the suspension.
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Fast forward to December 2025, and the "pulled" rumors were officially put to bed for a while. Kimmel signed a one-year contract extension. This keeps him on the network through at least May 2027. It was a bit of a surprise move, especially since his previous deal was set to expire in May 2026 and he’d been hinting at retirement for years.
Recent Changes You Might Have Noticed
If you’ve watched the show lately and thought it felt a little... different, you aren't imagining things. There have been some quiet "pulling back" moves that aren't quite the same as canceling the show but definitely reflect a changing landscape.
- Musical Guest Cuts: Starting in early 2026, reports surfaced that the show is scaling back on musical acts. Instead of a band every single night, it’s now more like twice a week.
- Budget Tightening: Like everywhere else in TV, the belts are getting tighter. They're leaning more on comedy bits and "man on the street" segments which cost way less than flying in a 10-piece band and paying for all that setup.
- The Rerun Factor: ABC still uses reruns frequently, especially during the holidays or "off" weeks. If you tuned in on a Friday in late 2025 or early January 2026 and saw an old episode, it doesn't mean he was pulled—it’s just the standard late-night grind.
The Ratings and Political Pressure
Let's be real: Jimmy Kimmel is a lightning rod. Whether it’s his recent satirical offer to give Donald Trump his trophies in exchange for policy changes in Minneapolis or his long-standing feuds, he stays in the news.
The ratings are a mixed bag. On one hand, the "Charlie Kirk" controversy actually led to some record numbers for ABC because everyone wanted to see what he’d say next. On the other hand, traditional TV viewership is dropping across the board. Advertisers still love him, though, and as long as the YouTube clips keep getting millions of views, ABC seems willing to weather the occasional political firestorm.
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What's Next for Jimmy Kimmel?
We know he’s safe until 2027. That’s the hard fact. But the "did ABC pull Jimmy Kimmel" rumors will likely keep popping up every time he takes a week off or makes a joke that goes too far for a specific affiliate.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the affiliate stations. If Sinclair or Nexstar start blacking out the show again, that's the real red flag. For now, he’s still the face of ABC late night, just with a few fewer musical guests and a slightly more cautious network breathing down his neck.
The best way to verify if the show is live is to check the official ABC press site or the show’s verified social media channels for the nightly guest lineup. If they’re announcing guests for tomorrow, the show hasn't been pulled. You can also monitor the 11:35 p.m. ET time slot on the ABC app to see if it’s a "New" or "Repeat" episode.