Moviefone Editorial

Category: Late Night TV Shows

ABC Suspends ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Following FCC Demand
Jimmy Kimmel on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’. Photo: ABC.

Preview:
- ABC has indefinitely suspended ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’
- An affiliate had pulled the show following the host’s comments on political reactions to the Charlie Kirk Assassination.
- Hollywood has reacted to the move.
Following the cancellation of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ that had observers worried it was a political move, another late night TV host has seen an even stronger reaction from its network.

Popular host Jimmy Kimmel of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ has seen his show put on indefinite hold (with real concerns it won’t ever return) following comments on the political reaction to the Charlie Kirk assassination that caused a reaction from the FCC and particularly an ABC affiliate that immediately pulled the show from its stations.
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Here’s the comment that Kimmel made on Monday that led to the suspension and the FCC weighing in on the issue:

“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”

Related Article:Host Stephen Colbert Announces the Shocking End of CBS’ ‘The Late Show’

What else happened with ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’?

Jimmy Kimmel on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’. Photo: ABC.

Kimmel had intended to offer some clarification and address the backlash on his Wednesday night show, but the series is now on hold.

New information has come to light that the Nexstar company in charge of the affiliates is in the midst of a pricey merger deal, which requires FCC approval. And Hollywood –– including the Writers Guild of America and actors union SAG-AFTRA –– have voiced their outrage about the move.

Even former President Barack Obama weighed in:

“After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like. This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent — and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it.”

Kimmel suspension: the FCC responds

(L to R) Guillermo Rodriguez and Jimmy Kimmel on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’. Photo: ABC.

Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr had threatened to take further action against ABC if the show wasn’t taken off the air.

Here’s what Carr said in a statement:

“I want to thank Nexstar for doing the right thing. Local broadcasters have an obligation to serve the public interest. While this may be an unprecedented decision, it is important for broadcasters to push back on Disney programming that they determine falls short of community values. I hope that other broadcasters follow Nexstar’s lead.”

When will ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ return to screens?

There is, at time of writing, no information on when (or if) the show might come back. Kimmel had been contracted into 2026, but this may encourage him to seek a platform elsewhere.

‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ meanwhile, is scheduled to be on the air until the end of its current season in May 2026.

‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ during Thursday’s September 11, 2025 show. Photo: Scott Kowalchyk ©2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Late Night TV Shows:
- ‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson’ (1965)
- ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ (1993)
- ‘The Daily Show’ (1996)
- ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ (2003)
- ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ (2003)
- ‘The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien’ (2009)
- ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ (2014)
- ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’ (2014)
- ‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’ (2014)
- ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ (2015)
Buy Jimmy Kimmel Movies and TV on Amazon
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September 18, 2025
CBS to end ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’
‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ during Wednesday’s June 25, 2025 show. Photo: Scott Kowalchyk ©2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Preview:
- CBS is ending ‘The Late Show’ next year.
- Host Stephen Colbert announced the shock news at a taping on Thursday.
- The President has already hit social media with his delight.
In a shocking announcement during a taping on the show on Thursday this week, ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s host announced that corporate overlords CBS had decided to end the show next year.
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This was the statement on decision from Paramount co-CEO and CBS president and CEO George Cheeks, CBS Entertainment head Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios president David Stapf:

“ ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season. We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television. This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”

Related Article: Late Night Hosts Including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and More to Return as Writers Seal Deal

What could really be behind the cancellation?

‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ during Monday’s July 14, 2025 show. Photo: Scott Kowalchyk ©2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Though the CBS teams were at pains to stress the reasons for the move, the optics on the decision are not great for the company.

Especially since Colbert has been vocal on the show about his thoughts regarding CBS’ settlement with President Trump in order to facilitate forward movement on its merger with David Ellison’s Skydance company.

And while the financial fortunes of all the late night shows have suffered and traditional networks are tightening their belts in the age of streaming, it’s a particularly bad look at a time when companies have been under attack.

Colbert has –– at least for now, assuming the show doesn’t end earlier than announced –– a chance to make his thoughts very clear in the wake of the cancellation decision.

What were the reactions to the news?

‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ and guest Sen. Adam Schiff during Thursday’s July 17, 2025 show. Photo: Scott Kowalchyk ©2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

President Trump naturally took to social media to offer his gleeful response to the cancellation of one of the people who have taken a stand against him:

“I absolutely love that Colbert’ got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!”

Kimmel for his part, had a funny, bittersweet post lambasting CBS for the decision, writing in an Instagram story:

“Love you Stephen. F**k you and all your Sheldons CBS.”

When will ‘The Late Show’ end?

As of right now, the show is scheduled to come to an end in May 2026.

What will be shown in its place? That’s anyone’s guess at this point, but given the increasingly troubled viewership figures for late night shows, we may well end up with repeats or other series.

‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ during Thursday’s July 17, 2025 show. Photo: Scott Kowalchyk ©2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Movies and TV Shows Featuring Stephen Colbert:
- ‘The Daily Show’ (1997)
- ‘Strangers with Candy’ (1999)
- ‘The Colbert Report’ (2005)
- ‘Bewitched’ (2005)
- ‘The Love Guru’ (2008)
- ‘Monsters Vs. Aliens’ (2009)
- ‘BoJack Horseman’ (2014)
- ‘Mr Peabody & Sherman’ (2014)
- ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ (2015)
- ‘Girls5Eva’ (2021)
- ‘Despicable Me 4’ (2024)
Buy Stephen Colbert Movies and TV on Amazon
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July 18, 2025
Will Smith Predicted his Career would be “Destroyed” Ahead of Oscar Slap

Will Smith on Netflix’s ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman.’

He might be keeping a low profile after the events of this year’s Oscars, but it appears Will Smith already foresaw himself getting into trouble a while before the event itself.

Sitting down with David Letterman for an episode of the latter’s Netflix talk series ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction’, the actor made the usual pleasant chitchat and jokey banter with the comedian and host, but he also got candid about past struggles, including with alcohol and psychedelics.

“I drank, and it usually takes about 45 minutes to kick in. And I’m sitting there, and you always feel like, ‘Maybe it won’t kick in this time.’” Says Smith. “So, I’m drinking and sitting there, and then all of a sudden it’s like I start seeing all of my money flying away, and my house is flying away, and my career is going away.” The actor continues, “My whole life is getting destroyed.”

His vision also featured daughter Willow calling for help. “Then slowly, I stopped caring about my money, I just wanted to get to Willow. I stopped caring about my house, I stopped caring about my career,” Smith recalls. “This is my fear in real life, and I’m in there and I’m wanting to vomit and all of that, and I hear a voice saying: ‘This is what the f**k it is. This is what the f**k life is.’”

While no one is suggesting that Smith is psychic, it’s certainly an intriguing coincidence that he should talk about career damage some time before his incident a couple of months ago.

The slap, which will forever be seared into Hollywood – and particularly Oscar – history, happened at the Academy Awards on March 27th.

As comedian and presenter Chris Rock joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, her husband Will Smith marched on stage and slapped him.

Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards. Photo via Twitter.

“Jada, I love you. ‘G.I. Jane 2’? Can’t wait to see it,” Rock said as part of a short monologue that had previously been drawing laughs in the room. Pinkett Smith, who has recently spoken about her experiences dealing with alopecia, rolled her eyes at the gag. Seeing his wife’s discomfort, Smith took to the stage, walked directly up to Rock, and struck him on the face. “Will Smith just smacked the [expletive] out of me,” Rock remarked as Smith returned to his seat. Once he was sat down again, Smith repeatedly shouted at Rock: “Leave my wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth.”

Smith would be back on stage later that evening to collect his Best Actor Oscar for ‘King Richard’. But the fallout has continued to trundle on: Smith resigned from the Academy, which in turn imposed disciplinary action including a ban on him attending its events for the next decade. He will, however, keep his award.

To watch the full interview, head to Netflix.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Al Seib / A.M.P.A.S.

May 23, 2022
James Corden Set to Host ‘The Late Late Show’ Through 2022

CBS

CBS doesn’t need to find a new host for “The Late Late Show” anytime soon.

James Corden is officially planning to stick with his late-night gig through 2022. He has wrapped up advanced negotiations that began in May by signing a new deal with CBS, Variety reports. The multi-hyphenate had been nearing the end of his original contract, as it was due to end following the 2019-2020 TV season.

With Corden as host, “The Late Late Show” has seen plenty of success. It has been nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Talk Series four years in a row and earned two Creative Arts Emmy Awards. It also won in the Best Talk Show category at the 2016 Critics’ Choice Television Awards.

The show’s popularity has led to Corden being in high demand. He’s had voice roles in films like “Trolls,” “Peter Rabbit,” and “Smallfoot” as well as appeared in “Ocean’s 8,” the upcoming “Cats,” and more. We suspect he’ll continue to be busy, so it’s good that CBS has locked him down now.

Corden is currently hosting his fifth season of “The Late Late Show.” It airs weeknights at 12:37 a.m. ET/PT on CBS.

[via: Variety]

August 19, 2019
Jay Leno Returns to ‘The Tonight Show’ as Angry Man

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon/YouTube

Fans in the “Tonight Show” audience on Wednesday night got a big surprise: Host Jimmy Fallon stepped aside during his monologue to let an “angry man” speak his mind — and that man turned out to be none other than Fallon’s predecessor, Jay Leno.

In his return to the late-night talk show, Leno showed that he’s still go it. The comedian ranted about a variety of topics that irritate him, from non-celebrity cable advertising to Amazon’s plans to open physical stores. It was a fun throwback to Leno’s days of hosting. Watch below.

Leno handed over the reins to Fallon in February 2014, completing his second stint as the “The Tonight Show” host. He had the job from 1992 to 2009, and then again from 2010 to 2014. In the years since, he’s taken on small TV and film roles, such as his cameo in “Ted 2” and his guest appearances on “Lip Sync Battle” and “Last Man Standing.”

“The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

March 14, 2019
Watch Melissa Villasenor of ‘SNL’ Wow Jimmy Fallon During ‘Wheel of Musical Impressions’

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon/YouTube

After challenging Jimmy Fallon to “Wheel of Musical Impressions,” comedian Melissa Villaseñor was ready to blow away her competition.

The “Saturday Night Live” cast member definitely came to play when she appeared on “The Tonight Show” on Oct. 22. She had to sing three very different songs in the styles of three very distinct singers, and she nailed the challenge. Villaseñor managed to first channel Gwen Stefani for “Three Blind Mice,” then Christina Aguilera for “When You Wish Upon a Star,” and finally Björk for “Rock-a-Bye-Baby.”

As usual, host Fallon participated in the game, too, and he at one point seemed at a loss for how he could follow up Villaseñor. Still, he also did a great job. With the help of auto-tune, Fallon got started with an impression of Post Malone singing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and then went on to do “Rain, Rain, Go Away” in the style of Barry Gibb. It made for a solid competition, but we’d call Villaseñor the winner.

Watch below.

“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

October 24, 2018
Mark Ruffalo ‘Fired’ for Spoiling ‘Avengers 4’ Title

NBC

Mark Ruffalo has a reputation for spoiling “Avengers” plots. You know it. He knows it. So he had some fun with it.

While on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” The Hulk actor “spoiled” the “Avengers 4” title — insisting the news was already out there.

The show bleeped Ruffalo out, going with the gag that it was a huge spoiler:

He was almost certainly just joking around. But you never know. So fans got to work analyzing what was bleeped. This fan came up with “The Last Avenger.”

https://twitter.com/antovolk/status/1048873100199284736

Was it just a play on “The Last Jedi”? Will the title in fact be “The Last Avenger” — as a bookend to “Captain America: The First Avenger“? A new title rumor floating around suggested it’s “Avengers: Annihilation.” There was early talk that it was “Infinity Gauntlet” before that was shot down. We were pretty fond of the idea that it was “Avengers: End Game,” but the title is supposedly NOT said in “Avengers: Infinity War,” which would rule out “End Game.”

All of this is probably low-key irritating Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige. He seems to think the “Avengers 4” title build-up has gotten out of hand. It was never meant to be this deep. But fans caring too much about your studio’s movie is an excellent problem to have.

Joe and Anthony Russo directed both “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers 4: Whatever They Call It.” They responded to Mark Ruffalo’s title spoiler as part of this cheeky exchange:

https://twitter.com/Russo_Brothers/status/1048412243266863104

Guys… can we talk about this? https://t.co/PYe56UiUgO

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 7, 2018

Haha. The sad part of that joke is that Ruffalo may actually be done with his job as Bruce Banner/The Hulk. No firing necessary. So many changes are ahead in “Avengers 4,” including a goodbye for Chris Evans as Captain America. Chris Hemsworth also said his contract as Thor was ending with “Avengers 4.”

The original Avengers are stepping out of the spotlight. So Ruffalo being “fired” may just be a joke, but his Hulk may indeed take that “final exit” hobo walk off the screen.

“Avengers 4” is currently scheduled to open in the U.S. on May 3, 2019. The title should be officially announced any time now…

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October 8, 2018
‘Big Little Lies’ Star Alexander Skarsgard Skirted a Key Season 2 Question

NBC via The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon/YouTube

There are already mysteries to unravel as we wait for “Big Little Lies” Season 2.

One of the big ones is whether or not Alexander Skarsgard (Perry Wright) will continue to appear on the HBO drama series. When the actor was a guest on “The Tonight Show” on Sept. 26, host Jimmy Fallon tried to get an answer out of him, but Skarsgard tried to dodge the question.

***Spoilers ahead if you haven’t watched the “Big Little Lies” Season 1 finale.***

After Perry fell to his death at the end of Season 1, it seemed unlikely that Skarsgard would return for Season 2, but as Fallon pointed out, there have been rumors that the actor was recently on set. The late-night host asked him directly if he’s in Season 2, and it gave Skarsgard serious pause.

He started and stopped a few times, telling Fallon that he doesn’t want to get in trouble. Eventually, he admitted that he was on set, but said he “can’t disclose what [he] did on set.” Skarsgard did throw out some possibilities, though.

“Maybe I was acting,” he said. “I might have been just moral support, might’ve made coffee for the ladies. I might have helped Meryl Streep with acting.”

Interesting. It feels like a game of Two Truths and Lie — just with more [big little] lies.

Watch below. The two talk about Season 2 at 3:50.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5jX1jZVM0k

“Big Little Lies” Season 2 premieres in 2019; “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

[via: “The Tonight Show”; h/t: EW]

September 27, 2018
Adam Driver’s ‘SNL’ Promo Suffers ‘Aladdin’ Sabotage

NBC

Adam Driver is returning to “Saturday Night Live” this weekend to launch Season 44.

You remember his instant classic “Undercover Boss” sketch, right? My God that was perfect.

That “Star Wars” spoof is not referenced in Driver’s first “SNL” promo. Most of his other sketches are ignored, too, much to Driver’s frustration. The only one that gets mentioned is his “Aladdin” bit with Cecily Strong, recycling the same “I can show you the world” clip with over and over and over.

Apparently it’s Kate McKinnon‘s fault. She “sabotaged” Driver’s promo out of jealousy. Let the woman sing!

Watch to the very end, ’cause the “Help!” yell might be the best part:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8UNJZZAq5s

The uber-earnest black-and-white promo is a perfect fit for Driver’s deadpan humor. This *should* be a great first episode. Driver shares the limelight with Kanye West as musical guest, plus one new cast member, a bunch of new writers, and whoever shows up for the cold open.

“Saturday Night Live” Season 44 premieres Saturday, Sept. 29 at 11:29 p.m. on NBC.

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September 27, 2018
First ‘X-Men: Dark Phoenix’ Trailer Arrives, Watch Sophie Turner’s Teaser

20th Century Fox, via EW

Sophie Turner is ready to show off Jean Grey’s intense journey.

UPDATE: Here is the first trailer, as promised:

Here’s the plot synopsis:

In DARK PHOENIX, the X-MEN face their most formidable and powerful foe: one of their own, Jean Grey. During a rescue mission in space, Jean is nearly killed when she is hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable. Wrestling with this entity inside her, Jean unleashes her powers in ways she can neither comprehend nor contain. With Jean spiraling out of control, and hurting the ones she loves most, she begins to unravel the very fabric that holds the X-Men together. Now, with this family falling apart, they must find a way to unite — not only to save Jean’s soul, but to save our very planet from aliens who wish to weaponize this force and rule the galaxy.

Sophie Turner was indeed on “The Late Late Show” Wednesday night:

Original post:

“X-Men: Dark Phoenix” was delayed a few months for some reshoots, but it’s arriving in theaters this February 14, 2019. (Same day as the new “Happy Death Day” sequel.)

We’ve seen photos of the “X-Men” film, but now the first trailer is ready for fans.

Sophie Turner teased the trailer debut, which will happen during her appearance tonight (Wednesday to Thursday) on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” on CBS.

Her announcement came with a mini teaser, with a gorgeous backdrop:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoMIrIego_f/

The “Dark Phoenix” saga follows telepath Jean Grey’s battle with her own mind.

Back in December, Sophie Turner told EW she studied multiple personality disorder and schizophrenia in order to play Jean’s duality. “So many scenes I have to go from broken-down Jean — that’s when she’s most susceptible to Phoenix infiltrating her — to this confident, arrogant, judgmental character within milliseconds.”

The “Dark Phoenix” cast told EW this movie — set in 1992, almost 10 years after “X-Men: Apocalypse” — is the most emotional “X-Men” movie yet.

Watch the first trailer tonight, and see the full film on Valentine’s Day.

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September 27, 2018