ABC will take Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air this week as the late-night TV show gets a midsummer break. The news comes during an uncertain time in the genre, but there could be good news on the horizon as we near the return of Jimmy Kimmel.
The world of late-night TV is still reeling from news of The Late Show's cancellation. Hosts have banded together in support of Stephen Colbert, including Jimmy Kimmel. The ABC host has called out CBS and President Donald Trump over what he sees as a politically motivated decision.
But we haven't been able to hear from Kimmel on camera as the comedian remains on summer vacation. In his place, a rotating cast of celebrities has filled in as guest hosts during Kimmel's annual hiatus.
This week, ABC will replay some of the best episodes from the summer. Here's the expected schedule beginning Monday, July 28:
Monday, July 28: Musician Jelly Roll serves as guest host in a rebroadcast from July 16. His guests include Mayor of Kingstown star Jeremy Renner, WWE’s Randy Orton, and rapper Joey Bada$$.
Tuesday, July 29: Alan Cumming takes over the desk in a star-studded repeat from July 21. The guest list includes the Fantastic Four: First Steps cast of Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn, as well as Pamela Adlon.
Wednesday, July 30: A repeat from July 10 features Anthony Anderson as guest host. He welcomes actor Eric Bana, comedian Heather McMahan, and a performance from rock band Queens of the Stone Age.
Thursday, July 31: Comedian Fortune Feimster hosts a rerun originally broadcast on July 24. The episode includes pop icon Mariah Carey, wildlife filmmaker Bertie Gregory, and musical guest Danna.
Friday, August 1: Chris Distefano leads a fun-filled encore from July 15, with guests Julie Bowen (Happy Gilmore 2), NBA player Isaiah Hartenstein, and indie artist Cuco.
Although ABC has not officially announced the return date, Kimmel is widely expected to resume his hosting duties shortly after Labor Day. That would place his likely return during the week of September 2, aligning with previous years in which he resumed after the long weekend. Kimmel mentioned the Labor Day holiday during his final monologue before stepping back from the late-night spotlight.
Or at least, that's what he thought he was doing. President Trump has made a point of dragging Kimmel's name into the Late Show controversy, prompting responses from the comedian. At the same time, Kimmel hasn't been trying to avoid confrontation. He made sure to share an image of his entire family attending an anti-Trump protest earlier this summer.
It's only building anticipation for when Kimmel does return to ABC and gets in front of a camera. If he wants to continue talking about The Late Show or perhaps Trump's Epstein connection, only Kimmel knows. But expect the late-night host to come out swinging when he returns after Labor Day.