ABC has reportedly delivered a financial gut punch to late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, slashing his show’s musical performances by a staggering 60 percent, according to new reporting from The Daily Beast. The directive, handed down to the production team by music booker Jim Pitt, will reduce the once-nightly musical slots on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to just two per week — a steep downgrade that marks a new era of austerity for the long-running program.
No official reason was provided for the cuts, but the timing raises eyebrows.
Jimmy Kimmel Attacks Trump, Warns of ‘Tyranny Booming’ in Christmas Address on UK TV: ‘We Won, the President Lost’https://t.co/8nu5oNYbCR
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 26, 2025
The move comes on the heels of Kimmel’s suspension from ABC, Disney, and Nexstar earlier this year following incendiary on-air comments about the assassination of conservative commentator and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Just days after Kirk’s death, Kimmel used his platform not to mourn or call for unity, but to suggest — with a smirk — that the perpetrator might have come from within the “MAGA gang,” effectively using a national tragedy to score political points.
The backlash was swift and bipartisan. ABC affiliates dropped him. Nexstar issued a damning statement labeling the remarks “offensive and insensitive.” Even Disney — typically willing to shield its high-profile talent — pulled Kimmel from the air. The moment marked a rare public rebuke of one of late night’s most consistently political voices.
Yet after a brief hiatus and mounting pressure from progressive allies, Kimmel returned to the airwaves — unapologetic and defiant. He blamed “right-wing media” for the firestorm, dismissing the fallout as manufactured outrage. But clearly, not everything returned to normal.
Budget cuts, especially in entertainment, are often seen as subtle consequences — a studio’s way of quietly signaling discontent or recalibrating a show’s direction without issuing a press release. In Kimmel’s case, slashing his musical roster not only alters the DNA of his program, but also distinguishes it sharply from rival shows like NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which still features nightly performances.
No one banned Jimmy Kimmel from every major social media app.
That happened to Trump.No one conspired to put Jimmy Kimmel in jail.
That happened to Trump.No one fired a bullet at Jimmy Kimmel.
That happened to Trump.
And Charlie.What happened to Kimmel is that his corporate… pic.twitter.com/ItpxNyaBrP
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) September 18, 2025
It also strips away one of Jimmy Kimmel Live!’s signature elements: its ability to blend topical humor with live, energetic performances from chart-topping artists. For many viewers, the music is as much a draw as the monologue.
Now, that monologue may have to carry more weight — and scrutiny.
In late night, where optics and influence matter as much as laughs, losing a mic or a camera is rarely just about money. And in this case, the silence between songs might speak volumes.
