What Didn’t Shake Up Yet: The Late-Night Landscape in Flux
Late-night television is undergoing a significant transformation heading into the 2025–26 season. The 2025–26 U.S. network late-night schedule reveals that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will not return on ABC—marking a potentially seismic shift in the comedian’s career and the network’s lineup
At the same time, ABC is launching a spinoff: The Tonight Show with Albert Hahn, signaling a major strategic shift. Meanwhile, other late-night staples like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert remain in place for now This broader context hints that Kimmel may be preparing for something big.
The Major Move: Italian Citizenship & Hint of Relocation
In a recent episode of The Sarah Silverman Podcast (August 7), Jimmy Kimmel revealed that he has obtained Italian citizenship—a fact tied to his maternal great-grandparents’ origins in Ischia, Italy, traced back to an 1883 earthquakeHe expressed deep concern about the U.S. political climate—particularly under a potential second Trump administration—saying it’s “so much worse” than anticipated
Kimmel didn’t explicitly confirm plans to move, but he hinted he’s seriously considering relocating to Europe, possibly Italy—framing it as a contingency amid political unease
Why This Matters: Safety, Identity, and Industry Turmoil
A Safety Net and Political Discomfort
Kimmel’s Italian passport serves several potential purposes:
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Personal and familial safety net: With concerns mounting about what a second Trump term might mean for dissenting voices in media, Kimmel sees relocation as a form of insurance
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Cultural and emotional anchor: His Italian citizenship taps into ancestral roots, giving him a legitimate tie to Europe—and a meaningful alternative residence
Facing Political Red Flags
Trump has publicly targeted late-night hosts including Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, calling them talentless and predicting their on-screen demise—echoing the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Kimmel’s public stance supporting Colbert and criticizing CBS’s motives may have heightened his vulnerability
Career in Transition
With Jimmy Kimmel Live! slated to disappear from ABC’s upcoming late-night schedule, Kimmel faces a crossroads. Is he setting the stage for a European revival of his show? Or is he planning a quieter next chapter outside the U.S. late-night circuit?
Crossroads: Show, Citizenship, and the Next Chapter
| Factor | Implication |
|---|---|
| Show Ending? | With “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” not returning, he may be exploring new fronts. |
| Italian Citizenship | Allows life—and possibly career—in Europe. |
| Political Climate | Public clashes with Trump may push him toward relocation. |
| Personal Narratives | Grounded in heritage, safety, and family future. |
He could:
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Continue hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live! from Italy—or Europe broadly—within ABC or a new platform.
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Exit on his own terms, using this moment to transition to other creative or personal priorities.
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Use European citizenship as a safety fallback in case the U.S. political or media climate deteriorates further.
Pop Culture Reaction: A Move with Meaning
Celebrities like Rosie O’Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres have relocated abroad—largely citing social and political concerns—positioning Kimmel’s move as part of a larger trend among liberal American entertainers
Fans and observers see this not just as celebrity drama, but as symbolism, reflecting deeper anxieties about political polarities in U.S. culture. Some critics, however, suggest such moves indicate the privileged escape routes available to high-profile figures
Summing Up in
Jimmy Kimmel is hinting at a major pivot—personally, professionally, and geographically. With Italian citizenship secured and Jimmy Kimmel Live! no longer on the late-night schedule, he’s positioned at a crossroads amid political turbulence and industry upheaval.
This “major move” could mean relocating to Italy—grounded in heritage and a desire for safety. Or it could be a strategic reinvention of his career, potentially adapting his comedic platform for a global audience while preserving his voice in uncertain times.
No plans are set in stone. Yet given the shifting media landscape and intensifying political frictions, Kimmel is preparing for multiple futures: one rooted in L.A., another possible in Europe.
What does this mean for late-night TV? It signals more volatility—and showcases how even veteran hosts must adapt to survive. As networks recalibrate and political tensions flare, the stage is broader than ever—and Kimmel might just be eyeing the next frontier.
