Jimmy Kimmel worried about the future of talk shows
“I don’t know if there will be any in 10 years”
Jimmy Kimmel, the longstanding host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, has expressed doubt about the future of late-night television on network TV. After more than 21 years at the helm of his show, Kimmel signed a new three-year deal in 2022, though he had been uncertain about continuing. One of his reasons for staying was concern over what he would do next if he left the show. However, his worries extend beyond his own career, he questions whether late-night shows will even exist on network television a decade from now.
In a candid conversation on the Politickin’ podcast, Kimmel said: “I don’t know if there will be any late-night television shows on network TV in ten years. Maybe there’ll be one, but there won’t be a lot of them.” He elaborated on how the television landscape has shifted dramatically, particularly with the rise of streaming services and on-demand content. The days when Johnny Carson was the only thing to watch at 11:30 PM are long gone, Kimmel explained: “There’s a lot to watch and now people can watch anything at anytime, they’ve got all these streaming services” he noted.
Kimmel pointed out a significant change in viewer habits: the ability to watch monologues and key segments online the next day. This shift, he suggested, undermines the traditional need to watch these shows live, which could eventually lead networks to stop investing in late-night programming. “Once people stop watching it when it’s on the air, networks are going to stop paying for it to be made” he commented.
The decline in late-night shows is already evident. In recent years, a number of shows have been canceled, including Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Ziwe, and Desus & Mero. Even network staples like The Late Late Show, A Little Late with Lilly Singh, and Last Call with Carson Daly are no longer on the air. As Kimmel approaches the 22-year mark of hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!, he is set to surpass Jay Leno’s tenure, placing him third in late-night longevity right behind two TV legends like David Letterman and Johnny Carson. Despite his success, Kimmel admits to feeling uneasy about what comes next. In discussions with NFL icon Marshawn Lynch, California Governor Gavin Newsom and his agent Doug Hendrickson, the famous host revealed: “ I will have a hard time when it’s over. It worries me. That’s part of the reason I keep going”.
Kimmel’s concern extends to the broader implications for late-night hosts. “There aren’t a huge amount of options for late-night hosts once today’s shows are over” he said. While he continues to run Kimmelot, his production company responsible for various TV series and documentaries, Kimmel fears that once his time on late-night TV ends, so too might a significant chapter in network television history.
Beyond his talk show, Kimmel is keeping busy with new projects. Recently, it was announced that he is producing Whatever Happened to Huey Lewis? a mockumentary comedy in development at Fox. However, despite these ventures, Kimmel’s thoughts linger on the future of late-night TV—and whether it will even have one in the years to come.
SOURCE: Deadline
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“I don’t know if there will be any in 10 years”
Jimmy Kimmel, the longstanding host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, has expressed doubt about the future of late-night television on network TV. After more than 21 years at the helm of his show, Kimmel signed a new three-year deal in 2022, though he had been uncertain about continuing. One of his reasons for staying was concern over what he would do next if he left the show. However, his worries extend beyond his own career, he questions whether late-night shows will even exist on network television a decade from now.
In a candid conversation on the Politickin’ podcast, Kimmel said: “I don’t know if there will be any late-night television shows on network TV in ten years. Maybe there’ll be one, but there won’t be a lot of them.” He elaborated on how the television landscape has shifted dramatically, particularly with the rise of streaming services and on-demand content. The days when Johnny Carson was the only thing to watch at 11:30 PM are long gone, Kimmel explained: “There’s a lot to watch and now people can watch anything at anytime, they’ve got all these streaming services” he noted.
Kimmel pointed out a significant change in viewer habits: the ability to watch monologues and key segments online the next day. This shift, he suggested, undermines the traditional need to watch these shows live, which could eventually lead networks to stop investing in late-night programming. “Once people stop watching it when it’s on the air, networks are going to stop paying for it to be made” he commented.
The decline in late-night shows is already evident. In recent years, a number of shows have been canceled, including Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Ziwe, and Desus & Mero. Even network staples like The Late Late Show, A Little Late with Lilly Singh, and Last Call with Carson Daly are no longer on the air. As Kimmel approaches the 22-year mark of hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!, he is set to surpass Jay Leno’s tenure, placing him third in late-night longevity right behind two TV legends like David Letterman and Johnny Carson. Despite his success, Kimmel admits to feeling uneasy about what comes next. In discussions with NFL icon Marshawn Lynch, California Governor Gavin Newsom and his agent Doug Hendrickson, the famous host revealed: “ I will have a hard time when it’s over. It worries me. That’s part of the reason I keep going”.
Kimmel’s concern extends to the broader implications for late-night hosts. “There aren’t a huge amount of options for late-night hosts once today’s shows are over” he said. While he continues to run Kimmelot, his production company responsible for various TV series and documentaries, Kimmel fears that once his time on late-night TV ends, so too might a significant chapter in network television history.
Beyond his talk show, Kimmel is keeping busy with new projects. Recently, it was announced that he is producing Whatever Happened to Huey Lewis? a mockumentary comedy in development at Fox. However, despite these ventures, Kimmel’s thoughts linger on the future of late-night TV—and whether it will even have one in the years to come.
SOURCE: Deadline
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