Jimmy Kimmel, the host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, hinted that his late-night talk show may come to an end once his contract expires in 2025. In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, he candidly shared his thoughts on the matter.
“I think this is my final contract. I hate to even say it because everyone’s laughing at me now — each time I think that, and then it turns out to be not the case. I still have a little more than two years left on my contract, and that seems pretty good. That seems like enough,” Kimmel revealed on Tuesday.
‘I cannot wait until my contract is over’
Kimmel, 56, has also added to his contemplation of retirement. Kimmel admitted, ““It’s hard to yearn for it when you’re doing it.” He explained, “Wednesday night, I was very tired and I had all these scripts to go through — I had to revise and rewrite all these pitch ideas for the Oscars — and I was literally nodding off onto my computer. In those moments, I think, ‘I cannot wait until my contract is over.’ But then, I take the summer off or I go on strike, and you start going, ‘Yeah, I miss the fun stuff.’”
Jimmy Kimmel talks about his hobbies and life after late-night television
Reflecting on life after late-night television, Kimmel humorously noted that “it all involves more work.” He joked about the uncertainty of his future plans, saying, “I don’t know exactly what I will do. It might not be anything that anyone other than me is aware of.”
Kimmel went on to reveal that he has “a lot of hobbies,” including cooking and drawing. “I know that when I die, if I’m fortunate enough to die on my own terms in my own bed, I’m going to think, ‘Oh, I was never able to get to this, and I was never able to get to that.’ I just know it about myself,” he shared.
Kimmel compares himself to Tom Brady
Kimmel has previously shared his internal struggle regarding the future of his show, admitting to considering ending it before the 2023 Writers Guild Strike over the summer.
“As you know, I was very intent on retiring right around the time where the strike started,” Kimmel confessed on the “Strike Force Five” podcast in August. However, experiencing the strike firsthand made him rethink his plans. “Oh yeah, it’s kinda nice to work,” he admitted.
In a humorous comparison, Kimmel likened himself to Tom Brady, the NFL star known for his retirement drama. “I’m Tom Brady without any rings or any fingers,” he quipped.