Jimmy Kimmel Tells Viewers to Turn Off CBS the Moment The Late Show Ends

Late night did something rare: it closed ranks. Jimmy Kimmel hit pause on his own show so fans could watch Stephen Colbert sign off from CBS - and then he told them to never tune back to the network again.

What Kimmel did, and why

On Wednesday, May 20, the 58-year-old host told his ABC audience that 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' would go dark on Thursday out of respect for Colbert and the entire 'Late Show' staff, whose final CBS episode airs opposite Kimmel's usual slot. He did not mince words about how 'The Late Show' is ending, saying he believes Colbert and his team are being pushed out and hoping the people responsible feel ashamed - even if he doubts they will.

Kimmel also got sincere about Colbert, 62, and the 'Late Show' crew: 11 years of work he admires, a team that has always been gracious to his, and a friendly vibe that never felt like the old late-night turf wars. He says he loved being on Colbert's show, loved having Colbert on his, and wants that to keep happening elsewhere.

'I will be watching tomorrow night. I hope that those of you who watch our show will also tune in to CBS for the last time. Don't ever watch it again.'

Then, with his Kimmel-ness fully restored, he pivoted to a joke about 'the a**hole who forced them off the air' - his not-at-all-subtle reference to President Donald Trump.

So why is 'The Late Show' ending?

CBS announced in July 2025 that 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' would wrap up, and the backlash was immediate. The network insisted the move was a financial decision - not about ratings, not about the content of the show, and not about other drama at its parent company, Paramount. Skeptics noticed the timing: the decision came right after an episode where Colbert criticized Paramount for settling what he called a 'nuisance lawsuit ' from Trump.

That lawsuit? Trump, now 79, claimed '60 Minutes' unfairly edited an interview with Kamala Harris. He sought $20 billion. Paramount settled for $16 million. Colbert roasted the whole thing on air.

What Colbert says about all of this

In an April interview with The New York Times, Colbert said he does not dispute CBS's stated reason - the money - even if he jokes about it. He also understands why people side-eye the explanation, because, in his words, the network bent the knee to the Trump administration over a completely frivolous case that started at $20 billion and ended at $16 million.

Colbert's bigger-picture take is basically: two things can be true at once. Broadcast is in trouble. YouTube and streaming have chewed up the old ad model. He is not interested in arguing with CBS's spreadsheets. But he also notes that less than two years before the cancellation call, the network was eager to lock him in long-term - so, clearly, something changed.

He is not dwelling on it. As he put it - with a deliberately goofy phrasing - it is not 'behoovy' for him to spend energy trying to decode the politics behind the scenes. He wants to keep things friendly with CBS. He says the partnership has been good, and after 11 years at the network - and almost 10 years before that elsewhere, nearly 21 years total in late night - he'd rather feel grateful than mad.

The quick timeline

• July 2025: CBS says 'The Late Show' will end. Backlash follows.
• April 2026: Colbert tells the New York Times he accepts the financial rationale but gets why fans think it looks fishy, citing the Trump lawsuit settlement.
• Wed, May 20, 2026: On ABC, Kimmel announces his show will sit out Thursday to salute Colbert, calls out the people who pushed the show off the air, and urges viewers to watch CBS once - and then never again. He jokes that Trump is the culprit.
• Thu, May 21, 2026: Colbert's final 'Late Show' airs on CBS.