Disney Renews Jimmy Kimmel Live, Brushes Off Donald Trump’s Backlash

Jimmy Kimmel is not packing up his desk. Disney quietly locked in a new deal to keep 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' rolling, even after that strange off-air hiccup and the ratings jolt that followed. Here is what actually happened, minus the fluff.

The deal, in plain English

Per Bloomberg, Kimmel and Disney finalized a new agreement months ago. It is a one-year extension that keeps him in the chair through at least May 2027, which lines up with the end of the 2026-27 broadcast season. The report also says they sat on the announcement out of respect for Stephen Colbert, whose show is slated to end in 2026. Odd bit of PR timing, but that is what the report says.

About that brief shutdown

Earlier this year, ABC paused production on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' after the FCC publicly threatened action against the network and its license following Kimmel's on-air remarks involving conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the way the MAGA crowd was reacting to a violent incident. The specifics and the FCC posture were messier than usual, and different sides framed it very differently, which is why the pause raised so many eyebrows.

The show was off the air for a week. During that window, a lot of celebrities and fans blasted Disney and ABC for the shutdown. When the show returned at the end of September, one major station group, Sinclair, said the decision followed a lot of public input:

'Thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives.'

The bounce-back ratings

Kimmel's first episode back delivered 6.3 million viewers. That is the show's highest-rated regularly scheduled episode ever. Only the post-Super Bowl or post-Oscars specials have been bigger.

So where does that leave Kimmel?

Back on solid footing. He returned to TV in September, and now he is officially sticking around through at least May 2027. The show is still the same machine: weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET, with the usual mix of celebrities, athletes, comedians, musical guests, human-interest oddities, comedy bits, and the house band. Recent nights included Glen Powell (promoting 'Chad Powers') and Sarah McLachlan as the musical guest.

• Early year: ABC halts 'Kimmel' for a week after FCC threats tied to Kimmel's remarks about a controversial incident involving Charlie Kirk
• End of September: Show returns; Sinclair cites 'thoughtful feedback' in explaining the move
• Return night: 6.3 million viewers, a regular-episode record for the show
• Deal terms (via Bloomberg): One-year extension inked months ago, announcement delayed to avoid stepping on Colbert's 2026 exit headlines
• Runway: Kimmel is now set at least through May 2027