In a move that reflects the shrinkage of late-night TV, ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” will feature fewer musical performances in the coming weeks, sources confirm to Variety.
The news was first reported late Monday by The Hollywood Reporter, which cited sources as saying musical performances would be cut to twice a week, though Variety’s sources said that number was likely to fluctuate. However, the show will no longer air musical performances each night.
Representatives for the program did not respond to requests for comment. The reason for this decision was not disclosed, but budget considerations likely played a role.
Music performances have been a cornerstone of the show since its inception, ranging from superstars like One Direction, Eminem (live from the Empire State Building) and The Weeknd to countless up-and-coming artists.
The move reflects a sadly common trend in late-night TV’s overall decline, with shows hosted by Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert losing their house bands and cutting back on musical performances. Only Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show” will continue to regularly feature musical guests.
Last month, Variety reported that Kimmel and ABC’s parent company Disney had signed a new contract that would keep him hosting ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” for an additional year, according to three people familiar with the matter. Kimmel’s current contract with Disney was expected to expire in 2026. The comedian confirmed the contract renewal in an Instagram post, writing, “Happy to announce another year of no talent!”
The renewal comes after Disney removed Kimmel’s show from its schedule for several days in September after the two biggest owners of affiliate TV stations, Nexstar and Sinclair, complained about Kimmel’s monologue about the assassinated young Republican Charlie Kirk earlier that month.
Variety will provide more details as the situation develops.
Additional reporting by Michael Schneider and Brian Steinberg.
