Wednesday nights usually feel like the mid-week slump, but tonight's Jimmy Kimmel Live today lineup is basically the opposite of a boring night in. It’s January 14, 2026, and if you haven't checked the guest list yet, you're in for a weirdly perfect mix of chaos, high-stakes drama, and actual stadium-level music.
Kimmel has a way of pairing people who have absolutely nothing in common. Honestly, seeing Johnny Knoxville and Ed Sheeran on the same call sheet feels like a fever dream, but that’s exactly why people are still obsessed with late-night TV.
Johnny Knoxville and the Fear Factor Reboot
First up on the couch is Johnny Knoxville. He’s not here to talk about Jackass for the millionth time, though. He’s actually promoting the new reboot, Fear Factor: House of Fear.
Most of us grew up watching Joe Rogan make people eat elk organs, but Knoxville is bringing a different kind of energy to the franchise. It’s less "macho stuntman" and probably more "how much psychological damage can we fit into an hour?" Knowing Knoxville’s history with hospitals and concussions, he’s the only person who can look a contestant in the eye and say, "Yeah, I’ve done worse," and actually mean it.
Expect him to show a clip that makes you want to look away but you literally can't. He's also been dodging rumors about whether he'll actually participate in any of the stunts himself. Jimmy usually needles him about his age and his "silver fox" hair, so the banter should be top-tier.
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Chase Infiniti and the Award Season Buzz
Then there’s Chase Infiniti. If you haven't seen One Battle After Another, you're basically living under a rock at this point. She’s the breakout star of the season.
There’s a ton of buzz around her right now because of the SAG and Golden Globe nominations. She’s also got The Testaments—the Handmaid’s Tale sequel—coming out on Hulu in April, so Jimmy is definitely going to try and squeeze some spoilers out of her. She’s known for being pretty guarded, but Kimmel has a knack for getting actors to let their hair down.
It’s a big night for her. Transitioning from a rising star to a household name usually happens on this very couch.
Ed Sheeran Takes the Stage
To cap it all off, Ed Sheeran is the musical guest. He’s performing tracks from his latest album, Play.
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Love him or hate him, the man knows how to command a stage with just a loop pedal and a guitar. He’s been doing a lot of intimate shows lately, but playing the outdoor stage (or even the indoor studio) for Kimmel is a whole different vibe.
What Happened Last Night?
If you missed Tuesday’s show, you missed a pretty heavy monologue. Kimmel spent a good chunk of time going after the recent political mess in Minneapolis involving the ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Good. It wasn’t all jokes; Jimmy actually got pretty fired up about the administration's response.
He also had Noah Wyle on to talk about The Pitt (Season 2 is looking intense) and Tig Notaro, who is always a delight because she basically refuses to play the "Hollywood" game. The musical guests were Raphael Saadiq, Miles Caton, and Ludwig Göransson, performing music from the movie Sinners.
Viewing Guide and Schedule
You’ve got a few ways to catch the show if you aren’t staying up late:
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- Live: 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC.
- Streaming: You can find the full episode on Hulu or Disney+ starting tomorrow morning.
- Clips: Most of the monologue and the big interviews will be on the official YouTube channel by 3:00 a.m.
Rest of the Week Lineup
- Thursday, Jan 15: Chris Pratt is stopping by to talk about his sci-fi thriller Mercy. He’ll be joined by Jessie Buckley, who’s promoting Hamnet.
- Friday, Jan 16: This one is usually a mix of highlights or a pre-taped "best of" segment, but check your local listings because they occasionally surprise us with a new Friday taping during big award weeks.
Why This Episode Matters
Late-night TV is in a weird spot in 2026. Everyone says it's dead, and then a clip of Johnny Knoxville talking about a new Fear Factor goes viral and gets 10 million views by breakfast. Tonight’s show is a litmus test for that. You have the legacy "stunt" guy, the "it" girl of the moment, and one of the biggest pop stars on the planet.
Basically, it’s a packed house. If you want to stay in the loop for the watercooler talk tomorrow, you’re going to want to see what Knoxville says about his new challenges and if Ed Sheeran plays any of the "deep cuts" from the new record.
To make sure you don't miss the specific segments, keep an eye on the ABC app around midnight. The Johnny Knoxville interview is scheduled to be the lead-in right after the monologue, which usually starts around 11:42 p.m. after the local news break. Ed Sheeran typically won't hit the stage until the final ten minutes of the broadcast, so if you're only here for the music, you can probably snooze until about 12:25 a.m.
Make sure your DVR is set if you're on the West Coast, as the "live" aspect is tape-delayed and often gets shifted by sports overruns.
The next step is simple: tune in or clear some space on your watch list for tomorrow morning's stream.