On August 18, 2025, Jimmy Kimmel fiercely defended Stephen Colbert, dismissing reports that CBS canceled The Late Show due to $40 million annual losses as “beyond nonsensical.” In a fiery Variety interview, Kimmel, host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, challenged the narrative, arguing that media insiders misunderstand TV economics, particularly affiliate fees. The comments, sparking debate on X, come amid speculation about Kimmel’s own future, with rumors of a potential move to Italy, per visaverge.com.
Kimmel criticized alleged budget analysts, saying, “They don’t know what they’re talking about,” emphasizing that affiliate fees, worth “hundreds of millions, probably billions,” are overlooked in favor of advertising revenue. “There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that’s accurate,” he declared, questioning the claim that The Late Show, with 3 million nightly viewers per Nielsen, was a financial failure. X users echoed his skepticism, with @TVFan22 tweeting, “Kimmel’s calling out the nonsense!” while others, like @MediaCritic, speculated CBS used losses as a pretext amid a $20 billion Trump lawsuit, per mediaglobal.info.
Drawing from his own experience, Kimmel noted that Jimmy Kimmel Live! was deemed unprofitable for its first decade despite higher viewership than today’s 1.4 million, yet ABC continued funding it. “They keep paying us—that’s all you need to know,” he said, suggesting network motives are complex. This aligns with Colbert’s new venture, Unfiltered: Colbert & Crockett, set for a 2026 Peacock debut, per storynews.us, hinting CBS may regret its decision.
The controversy underscores broader media shifts, with late-night shows facing budget scrutiny. Kimmel’s defense highlights affiliate fees’ role, which can exceed $500 million annually for networks, per The Hollywood Reporter. Critics on X, like @NewsSkeptic, argue, “Kimmel’s protecting his buddy, but numbers don’t lie.” Yet, his point about opaque industry finances resonates, especially as CBS’s replacement programming struggles, losing 15% viewership, per Nielsen.
Kimmel’s outspoken support, amid his own reported discontent with ABC, per news.zululion.com, positions him as a late-night defender. As Colbert prepares his comeback, Kimmel’s fiery rebuttal challenges the narrative, leaving fans and industry watchers questioning CBS’s move and what’s next for late-night TV.
