“Jimmy Kimmel Live! ”to Make Major Change for Future Shows: Reports
- - “Jimmy Kimmel Live! ”to Make Major Change for Future Shows: Reports
Julia MooreJanuary 8, 2026 at 2:05 AM
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Jimmy Kimmel Live/Youtube
Jimmy Kimmel -
There's a major change reportedly coming to Jimmy Kimmel Live! in the near future
The ABC late-night show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel was just renewed for another season, PEOPLE confirmed in December
Kimmel, 58, took home the Critics Choice Award for Best Talk Show on Jan. 4 for the series
Changes are coming to Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The ABC late-night show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel will soon begin cutting down on the number of musical guests that appear.
The Hollywood Reporter cited multiple sources who claimed that there will be just two musical guest performances each week on the show, while Variety reported that the number of performances will vary weekly.
PEOPLE did not immediately hear back from a rep for Kimmel regarding the news.
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Jimmy Kimmel accepts the Critics Choice Award for Best Talk Show at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards on Jan. 4, 2026
The change comes weeks after Kimmel, 58, signed a contract extension for the show. PEOPLE confirmed in December that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will air through 2027. His contract was previously slated to end in May 2026.
At the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, Jan. 4, Kimmel took home the win for Best Talk Show and thanked President Donald Trump in his acceptance speech, as he said the show "would be going home empty-handed tonight" if it weren't for Trump.
"So thank you, Mr. President, for all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day. It's been a banner couple of weeks, and we can't wait to get back on the air tomorrow night to talk about them," he said at the time.
Kimmel also referenced the challenges his show experienced last year — namely, its six-day suspension — in his speech, as he thanked those who "supported us, who really stepped forward for us, and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or this country."
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Jimmy Kimmel on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'
Later that night, the host reflected on his show's rocky year as he compared it to a "near-death experience."
"Of course, not literally, but I did feel a little bit like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn watching their own funeral, when all this stuff happened," he told reporters in the winners' room, referring to his show being taken off the air in September over comments he made about Charlie Kirk's death.
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The show returned to the air on Sept. 23, and Kimmel said in the winners' room that the "desperate way" people reacted to the suspension and return was inspiring.
"We're like, 'Oh boy, when they come after the comedians, this is when we draw the line.' We're very grateful that they drew the line at us," he added.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
