Jimmy Kimmel jokes CBS helped hand him a record June
Kimmel told Variety his late-night ratings climbed before his summer break as he returns to ABC with a celebrity-packed Millionaire season.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
Jimmy Kimmel is giving CBS a cheeky thank-you card after “Jimmy Kimmel Live” hit a 23-year high in June.
According to Variety, Kimmel’s ABC late-night show averaged 3.15 million viewers for the month, its biggest monthly audience since the program began. The jump came before Kimmel stepped away for his usual summer break.
Kimmel told Variety the numbers were strong and joked that CBS’ “wisdom” had helped. Variety reported there is no definite proof tying the bump to CBS’ cancellation of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” though Kimmel played along with the idea that displaced Colbert viewers may have wandered over to ABC.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” rose 17% in total viewers from May, when it averaged 2.69 million. In adults 18 to 49, the show more than doubled its May rating, climbing to 0.37 from 0.18, according to Variety. That marked its best performance in the demo since April 2020.
The full season brought more good news for Kimmel’s camp. Variety reported the show averaged 2.62 million viewers, up 34% from 1.95 million last season. Its adults 18 to 49 rating rose 32%, from 0.17 to 0.22. It was the program’s most-watched season since 2014-15.
Colbert got an invite
Kimmel is currently off the late-night desk, with guest hosts filling in. Variety named Tiffany Haddish, Anthony Anderson, Ike Barinholtz, Colman Domingo, Rosie O’Donnell and Jelly Roll among the summer substitutes.
Kimmel also said he invited Colbert to guest host “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” but Colbert declined. Kimmel told Variety he thought the timing may have felt too soon, while adding that Colbert could take the chair whenever he wanted.
Kimmel also defended late-night television’s remaining muscle, telling Variety that TV audiences are still larger than some buzzy podcast audiences, while many viewers also catch late-night clips on YouTube the next day.
Back in the hot seat
Kimmel’s summer is not all hammock time. He returns to primetime Wednesday, July 22, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC as host of a new celebrity edition of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”
The format again pairs celebrities who compete for charity. Kimmel told Variety he enjoys the job because it is less demanding than his late-night show and lets families play along at home.
The season opens with Ben Affleck teamed with “Jeopardy!” champion Jamie Ding, a pairing that follows last year’s opener with Matt Damon and Ken Jennings. Kimmel told Variety he was not sure Affleck knew he would be teamed with a quiz champion when he signed on.
Larry David also appears in the premiere with his daughter Cazzie David. Kimmel told Variety that Larry David questioned why he was there and reacted to the questions in a way fans might expect.
Other pairings this season include Colin Jost and Michael Che, Michael Keaton and Jon Lovett, Will Forte and Taran Killam, Brad Paisley and Clayton Kershaw, Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel, Tig Notaro and Pete Holmes, Jason Alexander and Wayne Knight, Billy Porter and Leslie Odom Jr., Jesse Eisenberg and Paul Giamatti, Awkwafina and Paul Feig, and Krysten Ritter and Sarah Shahi.
“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” comes from Sony Pictures Television’s Embassy Row and Kimmelot. Variety reported that Michael Davies and Kimmel serve as executive producers.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.