Late-Night Solidarity: Jimmy Kimmel Urges CBS Boycott Following Stephen Colbert’s Final Show
LOS ANGELES — In an unprecedented show of late-night unity, Jimmy Kimmel has called on his audience to permanently sever ties with CBS. During his Wednesday night monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the ABC host instructed viewers to tune in to the series finale of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 21—but to never watch the network again once the credits roll.
The dramatic call for a boycott comes after months of speculation and industry tension following CBS's decision to cancel Colbert's top-rated program, a move many observers have characterized as a political "authoritarian triumph."
"Don’t Ever Watch It Again"
Kimmel, who has frequently championed the modern "friendship over rivalry" era of late-night, revealed that his own show would go dark on Thursday night out of respect for Colbert’s send-off.
"I hope those of you who watch our show will also tune in to CBS for the last time," Kimmel told his audience. "Don’t ever watch it again, but watch tomorrow night to wish Stephen and our friends at The Late Show a fond farewell." Kimmel went on to state that those responsible for "pushing" the show off the air should feel "ashamed of themselves."
The Political Shadow of Cancellation
While CBS officially cited "financial decisions" and a "challenging backdrop in late night" for shuttering the 11-year-old institution, the timeline has raised eyebrows across Hollywood. The cancellation was announced shortly after CBS parent company, Paramount, reached a $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over a 60 Minutes interview—a settlement Colbert publicly mocked as a "big fat bribe."
Trump, who has been a frequent target of Colbert’s satire, celebrated the cancellation on social media, writing that he "absolutely loved" that the host "got fired" and suggesting that Kimmel would be "next."
A Night of "Dark" Screens
In a rare moment of industry-wide solidarity, both Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon opted to air reruns during Colbert's final broadcast on May 21. This "blackout" ensured that the late-night audience remained focused on Colbert’s 17-minute extended finale, which featured appearances from past hosts and longtime collaborators.
As the slot transitions to Byron Allen's Comics Unleashed on May 22, the vacuum left by Colbert’s departure marks a significant shift in the cultural landscape. For Kimmel, the end of The Late Show is more than just a scheduling change; it is a loss to the collective voice of late-night television.
Beyond the Boycott: Mocking Elon Musk
Even while defending his colleague, Kimmel hasn’t slowed down his critiques of other high-profile figures. Earlier in the week, Kimmel made headlines for mocking Elon Musk after the Tesla CEO criticized director Christopher Nolan’s casting of Lupita Nyong'o in The Odyssey. Kimmel told Musk to "stay in your lane," jokingly adding a photo of a Cybertruck for "good measure" to punctuate the jab.
Additional Resources
- LiveMint: Jimmy Kimmel calls for CBS boycott after Stephen Colbert’s final ‘Late Show’ episode – A breakdown of Kimmel's monologue and the "financial" reasons cited by the network.
- AP News: Stephen Colbert’s long goodbye comes to an end, leaving a void – An exploration of the political tension and the "Strike Force Five" reunion leading up to the finale.
- TheWrap: Kimmel Tells Elon Musk to 'Stay in Your Lane' After Odyssey Casting Meltdown – Details on Kimmel’s recent feud with Elon Musk over film casting.
- LateNighter: Kimmel to Viewers: 'Don't Ever Watch CBS Again' After Colbert's Finale – A closer look at the "pushing out" narrative and the $16 million Paramount settlement.
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