Jimmy Kimmel Thanks CBS for His Ratings Gains, Invites Stephen Colbert to Guest Host and Previews This Summer’s ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Jimmy Kimmel is riding a massive wave of momentum following a record-breaking June for his late-night program. The show reached an average of 3.15 million viewers, marking the highest monthly audience in its 23-year history. Kimmel attributes part of this performance to the shifts in the late-night landscape, though he remains humble about his success.

Beyond the raw numbers, the show saw a 17 percent increase in total viewers from May and a 109 percent spike in the critical 18 to 49 demographic. This performance stands as the strongest demo result for the program since 2020. Kimmel notes that these figures demonstrate the enduring appeal of traditional television formats despite the constant conversation around digital consumption.

While Kimmel takes his traditional summer hiatus, the show continues with a rotation of high-profile guest hosts. He even extended an invitation to Stephen Colbert, who declined the offer for now but left the door open for a future appearance. Kimmel confirmed he would step aside anytime to let Colbert take the reins.

Kimmel is also returning to his primetime role on ABC for the latest season of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. He enjoys the change of pace that the game show provides, as it allows him to rely on his instincts rather than a structured monologue script. The new season features celebrity pairs competing for charity, including notable duos such as Ben Affleck and Jamie Ding, along with Larry David and his daughter, Cazzie David. Kimmel highlights the interesting chemistry between these pairings, noting that celebrity duos often provide unexpected and humorous moments during gameplay.