The Option

E138 - Episode 138: Jimmy Kimmel's Budget Squeeze at ABC

Published: September 14, 2026

Duration: 2:59

A Page Six item about Jimmy Kimmel's future at ABC exploded online Tuesday, leading Drudge and landing on the day of Kimmel's post-summer return. The story as written is overblown — Kimmel isn't fired, the show isn't canceled — but the underlying economic signal it's pointing at is real. Broadcast late night is facing a structural cost crisis, and every major network deal is running the same math. For agents, showrunners, and executives negotiating or watching late night renegotiations, this is a leading indicator worth reading carefully.

Key Takeaways:

The Page Six item ran without traction in print Mond...