Why Jimmy Kimmel Is Airing a Rerun During Stephen Colbert's Final Late Show
TL;DR: Jimmy Kimmel is stepping aside on Thursday, May 21, 2026, airing a repeat instead of a new episode, out of respect for Stephen Colbert's final The Late Show on CBS. It's a deliberate act of professional solidarity — one he's done before for David Letterman — and it's happening amidst controversy over CBS's decision to cancel Colbert's Emmy-winning show. Here's what it means for late-night TV and how to catch Colbert's swan song, especially for Indian audiences.
Kimmel's Class Act: A Rerun for Colbert's Farewell
On Thursday, May 21, 2026, Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC won't air a new episode. Instead, viewers will see a rerun. This isn't a ratings surrender or a scheduling conflict; it's a deliberate gesture from Jimmy Kimmel, offering a clear path for Stephen Colbert's final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS. A rare move in competitive late-night television.
Kimmel, according to Deadline's reporting, made the call "out of deference to Colbert's sendoff." It's a quiet but unmistakable statement of loyalty in an industry that doesn't always reward that kind of professional courtesy. Jimmy Kimmel Live! will air new episodes Monday through Wednesday that week. Thursday is the exception. One night. For a friend.
The End of The Late Show: Dates, Details, and the Trump Controversy
Stephen Colbert's final episode of The Late Show airs on Thursday, May 21, 2026, on CBS. This isn't just a host moving on; CBS is cancelling the entire Late Show franchise.
Here's what you need to know:
- Colbert's Final Episode: Thursday, May 21, 2026
- Network: CBS
- Kimmel's Response: Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs a repeat on ABC that night.
- New Kimmel Episodes: Monday, May 18 through Wednesday, May 20.
- Colbert's Show: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which premiered in September 2015.
CBS announced the cancellation in July 2025, calling it a "purely financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night." But honestly, few people bought that framing entirely. The announcement came just days after Colbert publicly criticized Paramount Global's $16 million settlement of Donald Trump's lawsuit against CBS, dubbing it a "big fat bribe." Colbert's contract was also due to expire at the end of 2026, making the timing, whatever CBS's official line, impossible to ignore.
Colbert's show won multiple Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Talk Series, and received a Peabody Award during its run. It's tough to cancel a show with that kind of critical acclaim purely for "financial reasons." David Letterman, Colbert's predecessor in the Late Show chair, didn't mince words either. He publicly called CBS "lying weasels" over the cancellation, stating bluntly: "They're lying."
Kimmel's Tradition of Respect: A Playbook From Letterman
What strikes me about Kimmel's decision is its consistency. He's done this before, stepping back to let a late-night legend have their moment.
He did the exact same thing on May 20, 2015, when David Letterman hosted his final Late Show on CBS. Kimmel's quote from that night has stuck around for a reason: "I have too much respect for Dave to do anything that would distract viewers from watching his final show," he said. And he meant it. No new episode. No counter-programming. Just a rerun and a clear field for Letterman.
Kimmel, who has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003, is currently wrapping up his eleventh year. The fact that he's honoring Colbert's exit the same way he honored Letterman's says something profound about how he views the lineage of late-night television — not just as cutthroat competition, but as a tradition worth protecting.
There's also a deep friendship at play here. Colbert and Kimmel have consistently supported each other. During the 2023 writers' strike, all five major late-night hosts — Colbert, Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, and Seth Meyers — reunited for the "Strike Force Five" podcast. It was a rare display of solidarity in a format that typically pits hosts against each other in the ratings. According to lastnighton.com's coverage of their September 2025 return, they all came back to their shows around the same time after a suspension period — another moment when the late-night world moved together.
For Indian Viewers: Where to Watch Colbert's Farewell
Stephen Colbert's sharp political commentary and celebrity interviews found a genuine audience in India, largely thanks to YouTube clips and streaming platforms. For Indian viewers keen to catch the final episode or binge his run, streaming options can be a bit fragmented.
Here’s the current picture for India:
- Paramount+ / CBS content generally has limited direct availability in India.
- YouTube remains the most accessible platform for Late Show clips and highlight reels in the Indian market. You'll find plenty of full segments there.
- SonyLIV carries some CBS-affiliated content in India — it’s worth checking closer to the finale date for any special arrangements or retrospective content.
- Netflix India has not historically carried The Late Show as a series.
For the most up-to-date streaming options as the finale approaches, Movie OTT's where-to-watch tracker is the fastest way to check current availability across Indian platforms. Availability can shift, especially around major finale events when studios sometimes arrange limited streaming windows.
The broader context for Indian audiences: Colbert’s cancellation reflects a wider contraction in late-night and talk/variety formats, a trend echoed on Indian OTT platforms too. The economics of live, topical television are under pressure globally.
Late Night's Changing Guard: What Comes After Colbert?
Stephen Colbert launched The Late Show in September 2015, stepping into David Letterman's shoes with immense pressure. He found his rhythm, especially as the political climate shifted post-2016, building a show that felt genuinely vital to its audience. Now, after multiple Emmys, his tenure is ending.
Jimmy Kimmel, on the other hand, has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003. He's one of the longest-running hosts in the format, outlasting many competitors and adapting his show to new media landscapes. His current eleventh year puts him in rare company.
Both men inherited a late-night tradition that runs through Johnny Carson, Letterman, and Jay Leno. Colbert's cancellation, however, punctuates that lineage in a very real way: the Late Show franchise itself is ending, not just transitioning to a new host.
What happens after May 21? CBS hasn't announced a replacement; the franchise is over. That leaves a significant gap in the network's prime real estate. For Colbert, no next project has been announced, but given his profile and track record, it's difficult to imagine he stays off television for long. Streaming platforms could be an interesting, though economically complex, landing spot.
Keep an eye on May 21. The final The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is likely to be one of the most-watched late-night broadcasts of 2026. For all the latest on streaming availability and any replay specials, Movie OTT will continue to track platform information.
