As Jimmy Kimmel said his goodbyes to the audience on Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the year, he was overcome with emotion.
While the presenter was beginning his monologue on Thursday, December 18, he began to weep almost immediately. He was reflecting on the “strange year” that he had experienced before.
“It has been a challenging year. On the other hand, we have experienced both highs and lows. For me, maybe more than any other year in my life,” he added as his voice started to quiver and he apologized for something that had happened. “I’m crying already, I’m sorry.”
When he remarked, “On behalf of all of us at the show, I just want to say that we appreciate your support, your enthusiasm, and not just for watching — this year, you literally pulled us out of a hole,” he was alluding to the program’s suspension for six days in September and the subsequent rise in ratings that occurred after his return. “And we cannot thank you enough personally, professionally.”
In light of the current political climate, Kimmel, who is 58 years old, went on to contemplate the larger ramifications of late-night programs.
“When I hear from people who tell me that they watch our show, and the shows that my friends and colleagues do on the other channels, and that it makes them feel less crazy, it makes me feel less crazy too, and I think that’s an important thing,” he said further.
Kimmel made the following statement to viewers who were located outside of the United States: “A lot of us are not happy with what is happening. During this protracted psychotic episode that we are now in the midst of, we hope that you would be patient with us and remember that there are still a great deal more positive aspects to our nation than negative ones.
In addition to the difficult time that his show went through as a result of the statements that he made regarding Charlie Kirk’s passing, Jimmy Kimmel also suffered a significant loss this summer. Cleto Escobedo, a boyhood friend of his who also served as the band leader for the concert, passed away in November.
“It would be an understatement to say that we are crushed with disappointment. “Cleto and I have been inseparable ever since I was nine years old,” Kimmel said in an Instagram post on November 11 to announce the news of the relationship. “The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true.”
When Escobedo passed away at the age of 59, Jimmy Kimmel paid respect to him by crying throughout his monologue on the day of his passing. He referred to the monologue as the “hardest” he had ever been required to do.
Kimmel has also been subjected to a number of assaults by President Donald Trump over the course of the last several months, including a number of requests for Jimmy Kimmel Live! to be removed “off the air.”
The host has made several jokes about Trump, who is 79 years old, in reaction to his various insults. One of these jokes involves attributing the show’s skyrocketing popularity to Trump.
“He takes a live look at us. Good day, Mr. President! I hope everything is well with you. We appreciate you viewing us on television rather than on YouTube. For that, we are grateful. Kimmel mentioned this during a broadcast in November, after one of Trump’s postings that was intended to get him off the air. “And I’ll tell you, it’s viewers like you who keep us on the air, ironically,” Kimmel remarked.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return for the 2026-2027 season as a result of Kimmel’s signing of a one-year extension regarding his contract with ABC, which took place at the beginning of this month.
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