If you turned on ABC lately expecting to see Guillermo’s smile and Jimmy’s latest monologue only to find a dark stage or a rerun, you weren't alone. Honestly, it’s been a weird time for late-night TV. But the good news? The Jimmy Kimmel show back in full swing, and it didn't just return—it came back swinging after a winter break and a mountain of political drama that nearly sidelined the whole operation.
Why the Jimmy Kimmel show back feels different in 2026
Late-night isn't just about celebrities hawking movies anymore. It’s a battlefield. Just a few weeks ago, specifically on January 4, 2026, Kimmel stood on the stage of the Critics Choice Awards and took home the trophy for Best Talk Show. But it wasn't a standard "thank you to the academy" speech. He actually thanked President Donald Trump, joking that the show would be "going home empty-handed" if it weren't for the constant stream of material provided by the administration.
That’s the thing about Kimmel now. He’s leaned so hard into the political fray that every time the show goes on a scheduled hiatus, rumors fly that he’s been canceled or muzzled.
Remember the suspension in late 2025? That was a massive deal. The FCC got involved after Kimmel made some pointed comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. For a minute there, people genuinely thought ABC might pull the plug. But they didn't. Instead, they doubled down. In December 2025, Kimmel signed a contract extension that keeps him on the air through May 2027. Basically, he isn't going anywhere, even if the White House Communications Director Steven Cheung calls him a "no-talent loser" on X (which happened just yesterday).
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The new schedule and the "Musical Cut"
When you watch the Jimmy Kimmel show back on your screen this month, you might notice something is missing. Or rather, someone.
Starting in January 2026, the show made a quiet but significant pivot. They are cutting back on musical performances. Usually, we'd get a band or a singer almost every night. Now? Reports from The Hollywood Reporter and Variety confirm we’re looking at only about two musical acts per week.
Why? Cost-cutting is the boring answer, but it also frees up more time for the desk bits and the long-form interviews that tend to go viral on YouTube. For the week of January 12 through January 16, we saw this in action. We had Michael B. Jordan talking about his new project Sinners and Joel McHale riffing on Animal Control, but the musical footprint was noticeably lighter.
What to expect from the January 2026 lineup
The show is currently in a "new episode" sprint. If you missed the start of the year, here is the breakdown of who has been stopping by the El Capitan Entertainment Centre:
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- The Big Names: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon continue their bromance press tours. Affleck was just on to talk about The Rip, a gritty Miami cop drama.
- The Reality Crowd: Alan Cumming dropped by to talk about the latest season of The Traitors, which is basically mandatory viewing at this point.
- The Upcoming Week: We’ve got Rachel McAdams and the legendary Martin Short scheduled for the week of January 19.
It’s a mix. A weird, high-energy mix.
The Guillermo Factor
You can't talk about the show being back without mentioning Guillermo Rodriguez. He’s no longer just the sidekick; he’s a mogul. On January 15, 2026, Guillermo officially launched his own salsa line in Costco stores. It’s called "Guillermo's Salsa," and it’s actually being marketed as a real product, not just a bit. During the return episodes, Jimmy has been relentlessly mocking/promoting it, which honestly is some of the best chemistry they've had in years.
Is the show actually in danger?
People keep asking if the Jimmy Kimmel show back status is permanent. The short answer is yes, for at least another year and a half.
There’s a lot of noise about Sinclair and Nexstar stations (which carry ABC in many markets) being unhappy with Kimmel’s monologues. During the September 2025 suspension, some of these stations even threatened not to air the show. But money talks. Kimmel’s ratings actually spiked after the controversy. People love a villain, and they love a hero—depending on which side of the aisle you’re sitting on, Kimmel is playing both roles perfectly.
His wife and head writer, Molly McNearney, summed it up best at a recent industry brunch: "Fear is contagious, but so is bravery." The show's strategy for 2026 seems to be "lean in." They aren't softening the blows; they're sharpening them.
Real-world impact and what's next
If you're looking to catch the show, it's still in its usual 11:35 p.m. ET slot on ABC. If you're a cord-cutter, it hits Hulu and the Disney+ "Hulu on Disney" hub the next morning.
Here is what you should actually do if you want to stay updated on the Jimmy Kimmel show back movements:
- Check the 1iota website: If you’re in Los Angeles, this is where you get free tickets. They've been releasing them in blocks about two weeks out.
- Watch the Tuesday/Wednesday slots: Since they've cut musical acts, these nights have become much heavier on the "Cousin Sal" style comedy bits and street segments.
- Follow the contract news: While he's signed through 2027, Kimmel has a habit of saying he’s "ready to retire" every six months. Don't believe the retirement talk until you see a final air date announced by ABC directly.
The landscape of late-night is shrinking—Stephen Colbert's show has faced its own set of rumors, and the "big" celebrity interview is dying. But Kimmel seems to have found a second wind by becoming the primary antagonist to the current administration. Whether you love the bits or just tune in for the "Mean Tweets," the show is officially back and seemingly more un-cancelable than ever.
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Check your local listings for the Friday episodes, though. Recently, they've been sliding in more "OAD" (Original Air Date) reruns on Friday nights to give the staff a break. If you see a guest you recognize from two weeks ago, that's why. The four-day work week is becoming the new standard for the kings of late-night.