Jimmy Kimmel called on his audience Wednesday to stop watching CBS after Stephen Colbert's final episode of "The Late Show" airs Thursday night. The ABC late-night host made the remarks during his own program, framing the move as a show of solidarity with Colbert amid reports that the network is ending the long-running series.
Kimmel said he would not air his own show that night to honor Colbert's finale. "I think you know how I feel about the fact that they are being pushed out," Kimmel told viewers. "I hope the people who did the pushing feel ashamed of themselves tonight, although I know they probably won’t." He congratulated Colbert and expressed hope that the outgoing host would appear frequently on his ABC program going forward.
"I will be watching tomorrow night," Kimmel continued. "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. But watch tomorrow night to wish Stephen and our friends at 'The Late Show' a fond farewell."
The comments come after Kimmel appeared as a guest on Colbert's show last week alongside Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon and John Oliver. During that appearance, Kimmel questioned why late-night hosts were being asked to defend their format. "Why should you have to defend late-night? Why should that question even be asked?" he said, comparing it to other programs that face less scrutiny.
Colbert hosted Jon Stewart on Tuesday night as part of the send-off programming. Stewart praised his longtime friend but also addressed the show's focus on President Donald Trump. "He can do whatever he wants to do, but the ubiquitous bloviating of the commander in chief has put us all as defined as who we are in opposition to him," Stewart said. "And it's just a ridiculous framing. Yeah, it's a minute portion of the joy machine that you call your show. And it's annoying."
Stewart went further in his remarks about the political climate. "I mean this from the bottom of my heart, not just for this show, but for the country," he said. "The day — oh people, close your eyes and dream. The day that the electorate in this great nation we call home repudiates this putrid administration. The day that that happens, my brother. My brother. There will be — and I mean this — the day that that happens, there will be a joyful noise from the bowels of this great country that will make Hungary's repudiation of Orban look like an Amish Sabbath."
Colbert's exit marks the end of a program that has aired on CBS since 2015. The network has not publicly detailed its plans for the late-night slot following the finale. Fox News Digital reached out to CBS for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
The late-night television landscape has seen several changes in recent years, with hosts navigating shifting viewer habits and network priorities. Kimmel's remarks highlighted tensions among the remaining hosts, who appeared together last week to discuss the future of the genre.
During the group appearance on Colbert's show, Kimmel pressed for more open discussion about the cancellation. "The outrage that your show is being thrown off the air?" he asked. "I am waiting for angry Stephen to come out. I want to see you go nuts." The audience responded by chanting Colbert's name.
Colbert's run on CBS followed his earlier work on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report." His final episode is scheduled to air Thursday, drawing attention from fellow comedians and viewers alike. Kimmel's call to boycott the network adds another layer to the public conversation surrounding the show's conclusion.
Industry observers note that late-night programming continues to evolve as audiences migrate to streaming and digital platforms. Colbert's departure leaves questions about how CBS will fill the time slot and whether other hosts will face similar pressures in the coming months.
Kimmel's comments Wednesday underscored the personal and professional bonds among late-night figures. He emphasized support for Colbert while directing frustration toward network decisions that led to the end of the series.