Photo Credit: Getty Images
Late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert staged an unusual crossover on Tuesday night, appearing as guests on each other's programs to reflect on their recent setbacks and take a few jabs at President Donald Trump.
The broadcasts unfolded simultaneously, with Kimmel taping from the Brooklyn Academy of Music while Colbert hosted from the Ed Sullivan Theater in Manhattan. The stunt even included moments where the pair waved to each other's audiences via split screen. "It's the show the FCC doesn't want you to see," Kimmel joked, later adding, "We thought it might be a fun way to drive the president nuts."
This came just days after Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to air following a suspension by ABC. The show was pulled on September 17 after Kimmel made remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, prompting backlash from Trump, the FCC chairman, and major broadcasters Sinclair and Nexstar. Kimmel told Colbert the suspension was an "emotional rollercoaster," explaining that he received the news just before taping. "Listen, we want to take the temperature down. We're concerned about what you're gonna say tonight, and we decided that the best route is to take the show off the air," Kimmel recalled being told while on the phone with network executives.
Audience members had already taken their seats when he broke the news. "I thought, that's it. It's over... I'm never coming back on the air," Kimmel admitted. His return on September 23 was met with standing ovations, where he clarified, "You understand that it was never my intention to make light of a murder of a young man."
Colbert, meanwhile, discussed the looming end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which CBS announced would conclude in May 2026. The timing of the decision drew speculation, as it came shortly after Colbert criticized Paramount, CBS's parent company, for paying Trump $16 million in a settlement. Colbert said he "sweat through my shirt" before telling his staff the show was ending.
Both comedians continued their trademark satire during the crossover. Kimmel joked about Trump's fitness, saying, "If you get so fat you break escalators, you are unfit to serve in the military," referencing the president's recent mishap at the UN.
The night ended with tequila shots alongside Colbert's guest Seth Meyers and Kimmel's sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez. The hosts toasted "good friends, great jobs, and late-night TV," celebrating their camaraderie despite turbulent times in late-night television.
