Jimmy Kimmel Teases That His Current ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Contract Could Be His Last: “That Seems Like Enough”

Jimmy Kimmel‘s late-night tenure may wrap up sooner than you think.

Ahead of his fourth time hosting the Oscars, the Jimmy Kimmel Live host spoke with the LA Times about the future of his eponymous late-night show.

“I think this is my final contract,” Kimmel said. “I hate to even say it, because everyone’s laughing at me now — each time I think that, and then it turns out to not be the case.”

Fortunately, Kimmel still has “a little more than two years left” on his current contract, which he said “seems pretty good.”

“That seems like enough,” he added.

Kimmel — who began hosting the ABC late-night show in January 2003 — noted that “it’s hard to yearn for it when you’re doing it.”

He also revealed on an episode of the Strike Force Five podcast last August that he “was very intent on retiring right around the time where the strike started,” but ultimately realized that “it’s kind of nice to work.”

Kimmel was announced as host of the upcoming 96th annual Academy Awards last November. With respect to the esteemed gig, Kimmel told the LA Times that he “did not think [he] would ever do it again” following his first two runs at it. However, he credited the release of Top Gun: Maverick for his decision to return to host last year’s Oscars, arguing that he “knew there was a movie that people had seen, and it just makes the job easier.”

“Then this year, I am sitting in a movie theater watching Barbie and thinking, ‘Well, maybe I’ll do this again, because at least I have a point of reference with everyone,'” he continued.

In terms of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kimmel has recently landed himself in some hot water with former Rep. George Santos, who after becoming the subject of Kimmel’s comedic bit “Will Santos Say It?,” is suing the late-night host for at least $750,000 in damages, per The Hill.

The aforementioned segment involved Santos’ Cameo account, which he launched after being expelled from Congress on Dec. 1, 2023. According to Santos’ lawsuit, Kimmel allegedly “falsely represented” himself under several “fake user profiles” in order to send in outrageous requests, which he then aired on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Kimmel is being sued for breach of contract, copyright infringement, fraud, and unjust enrichment, per The Hill. According to the outlet, ABC and the Walt Disney Co. are also listed as defendants.

Santos had demanded $20,000 shortly after the introduction of the segment, which Kimmel initially brushed off.

“Can you imagine if I get sued by George Santos for fraud?” he quipped on the Dec. 11 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live. “I mean, how good would that be? It would be like a dream come true.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live airs on weeknights at 11:35/10:35c on ABC.