Jimmy Kimmel offered Stephen Colbert a guest spot, declined

Jimmy Kimmel offered his fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert a guest-hosting spot on his ABC program this summer, but Colbert declined the invitation, Kimmel confirmed in a recent interview. The offer came two months after CBS canceled "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in May, a move the network described as a purely financial decision.

Kimmel, 58, said he extended the invitation to Colbert, 62, as he planned his own annual summer hiatus from "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" The ABC host announced his roughly two-month break on June 18 and lined up a rotating slate of guest hosts including Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, Colman Domingo, Anthony Anderson, Rosie O'Donnell, and Jelly Roll. Kimmel told Variety he felt the timing for Colbert was likely too soon after his own show's conclusion. "Of course, I asked him, and I think it feels premature," Kimmel said. He emphasized the offer remains open indefinitely, adding that he told Colbert, "Anytime you want to host, it doesn't matter if it's the summer, I'll gladly step aside."

Colbert has not returned to television since his final episode aired in May, ending an 11-season run. CBS stated the cancellation was due to economic challenges...