Jimmy Kimmel Live! Reduces Musical Guests to Twice Weekly

Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC is scaling back its musical guest performances to just twice a week, a change that underscores ongoing cutbacks across late-night television.

The shift was communicated to staff in recent weeks by the show's music producer, Jim Pitt, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. Previously, the program typically featured musical acts on most episodes, often utilizing its distinctive outdoor stage in Hollywood. The reduction will not affect the show's length or timeslot, which airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. Eastern Time. Representatives for the show did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and no specific reason was provided to staff, though industry observers point to budget constraints as a likely factor amid declining viewership for linear late-night programming.

This move aligns with broader transformations in the late-night landscape. NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers has largely eliminated musical guests and disbanded its house band, led by Fred Armisen, in 2024 as part of cost-saving measures. CBS's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has also curtailed its music bookings and is set to conclude in May, with the network citing...