No New ‘Tonight Show’ as Jimmy Fallon Supports Stephen Colbert’s Final Episode

Late-night television is uniting in a rare show of solidarity as Stephen Colbert gets ready to air his final episode of The Late Show. NBC has announced that Jimmy Fallon will not air a new episode of The Tonight Show on that night, opting instead to broadcast a rerun.

This decision aligns with the conclusion of Colbert’s long-running CBS show on May 21, following its cancellation announcement last year. The move has been characterized across the late-night landscape as a gesture of support, with several hosts adjusting their schedules to ensure Colbert’s farewell receives the attention it deserves.

Jimmy Kimmel is also stepping back that evening, with ABC confirming that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will not feature a new episode either. According to reports from industry sources, the aim is to prevent audience fragmentation and maximize viewership for Colbert’s send-off.

Earlier this week, Fallon, Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver made a joint appearance on The Late Show. This reunion evoked memories of “Strike Force Five,” the podcast they launched during the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, which raised funds to support behind-the-scenes staff during the production shutdown.

During their appearance, they discussed the unpredictable nature of late-night television and changing audience behaviors. Kimmel reflected on recent controversies and the evolving viewing patterns across various platforms.

“We have a lot of shows. 30,000 people watching each one, and it adds up. People watch us on YouTube now. People have a lot of different options and they keep coming to us,” Kimmel remarked. He also joked about streaming platforms and cancellations, quipping, “When I got knocked off the air for a few days, people canceled Disney+. Why aren’t people canceling Paramount+? Because you never had it in the first place?”

As Colbert’s final episode draws near, the coordinated scheduling changes from Fallon, Kimmel, and others highlight how exceptional this type of industry-wide moment has become in contemporary late-night television.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!