Jimmy Kimmel in talks to renew talk show contract
What's the story
Contrary to earlier reports suggesting that Jimmy Kimmel would step down from his late-night ABC show, Deadline has confirmed he is currently in talks to renew his contract for another year. The negotiations are taking place between Kimmel and Disney, with ABC wanting to reduce the budget of Jimmy Kimmel Live! This trend of budget cuts is reportedly becoming increasingly common in late-night television.
Budget cuts
Disney's ongoing cost-cutting measures
Disney is looking to implement cuts across the board.
In August, the outlet reported that Disney was offering early retirement packages to longtime executives as part of these cost-cutting measures.
This came after the company announced rounds of layoffs starting in April, which involved eliminating 1,000 jobs, particularly affecting Pixar and Nat Geo divisions.
Retirement talks
Kimmel's thoughts on retirement
Kimmel and his wife Molly McNearney, also an executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, recently discussed the possibility of retirement on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast.
Kimmel said, "I know people who've been in that situation."
"It's funny. People make a big show of like 'I'm done, and I'm tired of doing this,' and then they make a lesser comeback trying to do the same thing. That's always a bummer."
He has hosted JKL! since 2003.