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Jimmy Kimmel Is Considering Retiring From Late-Night TV

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For the last 14 years, Jimmy Kimmel has spent 70 hours a week toiling away on his ABC late-night talk show. He rewrites his own monologues and extensively researches guests. But when his contract expires in the fall of 2019, Kimmel has thought about retiring from the perch that turned him into a household name.

“I know I will do the show for another three years,” Kimmel said in this week’s Variety cover story, as he gears up to host the Oscars on Sunday. “It’s possible that will be it. My wife’s pregnant. At a certain point, I’d like to have a little more free time. I have very little free time as it is.”
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https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/ji...ring-late-night-jimmy-kimmel-live-1201992589/

Who would take Kimmel's place in 2019? Or will Nightline move back to 11:35?
 
If he retires from that, he's effectively retiring, period. It's far too early for any real predictions on this. ABC may be the one deciding not to renew him again.
 
So there's only two ways to do a late night program? Put in 70 hours or put in zero? I'm sure it's a big responsibility and you want to supervise every aspect. But eventually, as Letterman and Carson and others have learned, if you hire good people, you don't have to do everything. It might not be 100% as you'd like it. But that's OK.

For his last seven or eight years, Letterman stopped doing any bits that required his presence before showtime or leaving the studio. He had others, usually staffers, do that. He had a trusted executive producer fire up the staff and do most of the pre-production. He also began doing two shows on Tuesday and two on Wednesday, so he could be off Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Of course, Kimmel is a good friend of Howard Stern's, who made an art of saying before every contract negotiation that he was thinking of retiring, or going someplace else. He'd talk everyday on the air with Robin about offers he couldn't disclose but was sure he would accept. But he only left voluntarily once, moving from CBS Radio to Sirius. All the other threats to leave were bluffs to drive up his price. Maybe Kimmel is learning from his friend?
 
I don't want him to leave. He's my favorite late-night host. I only take the time to watch him when he's in prime time, not that it would matter since anything can be recorded, but I just don't have time for more.

And I've missed his last two prime time appearances because I didn't know about them until afterward.
 
johnnya2k6 said:
Could we see "Chris Hardwick Live!" in a few years?
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when does any of his current contracts with Comedy Central/Viacom (for @Midnight), NBC/NBCUniversal (for that game show he host, The Wall), or AMC Networks/AMC (For Talking Dead, the show where they discuss the week's episode of The Walking Dead) expire. i'm sure he would do ok as a late night talk show host, but he's doing fine now with @Midnight and Talking Dead.
 
He's behind both Fallon and Colbert, so I suspect he's already being paid at the top of what he's worth to ABC.

They'd probably keep him if he wanted to stay, but if this is an attempt to get substantially more money, I suspect the mouse may just bid him farewell.

In any case, it's years away.
 
Hardwick sure is getting busy...another Ryan Seacrest in the making?
 
LKellerIII said:
Yes - another "Ryan Seacrest in the making" as in bland. I can't see Hardwick's modest talents getting him viewing audiences the size of Fallon's, Kimmel's, or Colbert's.
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Hardwick has more of a niche nerd audience. I don't know if he would want to or be able to pull off main stream talk.
 
Johnny Carson also spoke of retiring several times way before he finally did in 1992. Much of this was to get a better contract, shorter show, more vacation, etc. Not sure Kimmel has that kind of power. EDIT: Kimmel does not have that kind of power, though I thought he did well at the Oscars.

Upon even further thought, Kimmel has learned from Carson. Not only did this retirement discussion come up right before one of his biggest gigs in his life, (Carson also hosted the Oscars, 4 times to be exact), but his fake feud with Matt Damon continues to live on. (Though I think Carson's feuds were real, especially with the late Joan Rivers.).
 
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RadioPatrol said:
But Steve Harvey has been played as another Ryan Seacrest though, Like this Daily Show Clip including the one where Harvey met the president in the clip.
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Steve Harvey is "another Seacrest" only in the sense that he's everywhere...radio, TV, hosting specials, etc. I wouldn't call him "bland," like Seacrest. Whether or not he could pull off a late night talk show I can't speculate, but it would be a great idea for the network with the next late night opening to choose anything other than a white male - maybe Harvey, or Jessica Williams?
 
Conan's lucky to hang onto his TBS job. He's not coming back to network TV.

If Kimmel really wants more money, this tactic risks him being told by ABC, thanks for your service, Jimmy, good luck in your future plans. Carson he is not his leverage is limited at best.

He makes millions of dollars doing a job which gives him a lot of creative freedom. I don't think he serves himself well negotiating in the media.
 
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