Jimmy Kimmel is looking at the state of late-night television with a lot less confidence than he once did. The longtime host opened up in a new interview about the future of the genre.
He went on to admit that Stephen Colbert’s departure from CBS left him questioning what comes next for everyone still sitting behind a late-night desk. For Kimmel, Colbert’s exit felt personal.
Jimmy Kimmel feels late night television is being targeted amid Donald Trump presidency
Speaking to Vulture, the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” host reflected on CBS’ decision to end “The Late Show” despite years of success under Stephen Colbert. “I feel a little bit defeated by it,” Kimmel told the outlet after Colbert’s final episode aired in May. “In a lot of ways, I feel like I’m looking at my own future.”
CBS previously said the cancellation was based on financial considerations. However, Kimmel admitted he remains skeptical of some of the figures that have been reported about the show’s losses.
“Am I to believe that over the course of those two years, they suddenly started losing $40 million a year?” he asked Vulture. “These are just made-up numbers.”
Kimmel argued that late-night television remains relevant, particularly in the digital era where clips and monologues often reach millions of viewers online. “There are far more people watching late-night TV than there ever were,” he told the publication. “We’re not just dying of natural causes. We’re being poisoned.”
The comments come after a turbulent stretch for the comedian, whose clashes with Donald Trump have repeatedly made headlines. Trump has publicly called for Kimmel to be fired on multiple occasions, including after jokes targeting the president and First Lady Melania Trump.
Kimmel also addressed concerns about his own future at ABC. While his contract was recently extended, the renewal was reportedly for one year rather than the multi-year deals he had received in the past.
“Everything is so tumultuous,” he told Vulture. “That seemed to make sense.”
Despite the uncertainty, Kimmel said he’s not ready to walk away just yet. “It’s important to me to be responsible,” he explained. “I know I could go out in a blaze of glory and get a lot of applause for it, but it would be a very selfish thing to do.”
As for Trump, Kimmel said his feelings are more complicated than simple dislike. “I don’t love him. I don’t hate him, either,” he told the outlet. “I feel sorry for him.”
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This story originally appeared on Realitytea
