Jimmy Kimmel Live! is back in Brooklyn this week, and the guest lineup promises a mix of blockbuster stars and a few timely reunions that will have fans buzzing. Beginning Monday, September 29, Kimmel will broadcast a week of shows from the Brooklyn Academy of Music, a tradition that has become one of the highlights of the late-night show. With Kimmel freshly returned from a controversial suspension at ABC, this week’s lineup feels particularly charged.
The week kicks off on Monday, September 29 with actor Ryan Reynolds, comedian Josh Johnson, and legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy. It’s a powerful start and particularly interesting that Public Enemy starts the week for a show that has been at the center of free speech debates all month.
On Tuesday, September 30, Kimmel welcomes Stephen Colbert, Kumail Nanjiani, and Reneé Rapp. Colbert’s appearance comes after CBS recently canceled The Late Show, and Kimmel will return the favor by visiting Colbert's show on the same night. With Nanjiani, Kimmel welcomes one of the 400 celebrities that signed an open letter defending free speech in he wake of the late-night host's suspension.
Wednesday, October 1 brings Emily Blunt, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and performances from Geese and Big Daddy Kane. Blunt is not only a longtime friend of Kimmel, having been neighbors to him in Los Angeles, but also a guest who always seems to bring a memorable story. Moss-Bachrach, fresh off Fantastic Four, also signed the letter supporting Kimmel during his suspension, making his appearance both timely and personal.
The momentum continues on Thursday, October 2 with Jeremy Allen White, Bruce Springsteen, Living Colour, and Ivan Neville. White and Springsteen will be on hand to promote the upcoming biopic on the singer starring White. But Springsteen’s appearance could spark headlines for what he says about the president. The Boss has never shied away from criticizing Donald Trump, and with Kimmel similarly outspoken, their conversation could become one of the week’s most memorable moments.
Finally, the week wraps up on Friday, October 3 with Tom Hanks and Spike Lee. Hanks, another star who signed the pro-Kimmel free speech letter, remains one of the most respected figures in Hollywood. Lee, a Brooklyn icon, adds a hometown touch to close out the week
Taken together, the Brooklyn lineup is one of the strongest Kimmel has assembled in years. It balances blockbuster actors, politically engaged artists, and musical legends. Kimmel should feel the love from the live audience as he returns home as well as from the Hollywood allies he's made during his career.