Jimmy Kimmel cheekily reacts to Jimmy Fallon’s late-night episode cancellation

NBC is scaling back Fallon’s late-night show

Jimmy Kimmel has divulged a cheeky text he sent Jimmy Fallon after learning the TV host had an episode of his late-night show culled.

It was revealed this week that NBC is cutting backThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon from five nights a week to four, with reruns airing on Friday nights.

The major decision comes just months after the network announced it was eliminating the house band from Late Night with Seth Meyers due to budget cuts.

For the past few seasons, Fallon has consistently taped new Friday night episodes despite his competitors, including ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, CBS’s The Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, only taping four each week.

Speaking on Saturday (7 September), Kimmel said that all the late-night hosts have a message group set up, and that they congratulated Fallon upon discovering the news.

“As a group, we have a text chain of all the late-night hosts and we sent all of our congratulations to Jimmy Fallon for getting Friday off,” he said at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Appearing to address reports questioning the future of talk shows, Kimmel then quipped: “There is no future for late-night.”

Late-night viewership has declined in recent years due to networks being forced to take money-saving measures.

“Sadly, it’s the reality of broadcast and a shrinking market – streaming eating into this, and YouTube eating into that,” Late Night with Seth Meyers’s associate musical director Eli Janney said in June of the budget cuts.

“Streaming is not making money, either. So budgets everywhere have been cut and cut and cut. I liken it to a Spotify moment in music, where suddenly it’s like, nobody wants to pay for music. Music gets devalued.”

However, it’s worth noting that, earlier this year, Fallon’s show was renewed by NBC to run through 2028. Fallon, 49, first joined The Tonight Show in 2014, taking over hosting duties from Jay Leno following his retirement.

Late-night TV is no stranger to playful rivalries, but when an unexpected twist hits one show, the ripple effect usually reaches its competitors — and no one enjoys poking fun at fellow hosts quite like Jimmy Kimmel. So when news broke that The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon had abruptly canceled a recent episode due to unforeseen circumstances, it didn’t take long for Kimmel to weave the incident into his own monologue, delivering the kind of dry, tongue-in-cheek commentary that only he can pull off.

The cancellation, which surprised fans of Fallon’s show and triggered a wave of speculation online, was reportedly caused by a combination of scheduling conflicts and technical hiccups at NBC’s famed Studio 6B. While Fallon’s team swiftly assured viewers the show would return as usual the following night, the brief absence left a vacuum in the fiercely competitive world of late-night television — and provided Kimmel the perfect opening for a few barbed jokes.

Opening his Jimmy Kimmel Live! monologue with his trademark sly grin, Kimmel wasted no time addressing the elephant in the room: “Ladies and gentlemen, before we get started tonight, I want to take a moment to thank my good pal Jimmy Fallon for giving all of us late-night hosts a little boost in ratings. Apparently, if you just cancel your show last minute, people remember there are other Jimmys out there too!”

The audience roared, clearly relishing Kimmel’s good-natured jab. It’s moments like these that remind viewers why Kimmel has managed to keep his show fresh and relevant for over two decades. Unlike the more scripted personas of some late-night hosts, Kimmel’s appeal lies in his balance of irreverence and empathy — a willingness to poke fun at his peers without crossing into mean-spirited territory.

A Gentle Roast in Classic Kimmel Fashion

As he continued, Kimmel leaned even harder into the rivalry: “You know, some people think Jimmy and I are the same person. So if you tuned in for Fallon and got me instead, you’re welcome. Same haircut, fewer fake laughs.” The quip drew another round of laughter, punctuated by his signature pause-for-effect delivery.

While the bit played for laughs, it also highlighted a broader truth: in the crowded landscape of American late-night TV, the lines between shows often blur. Fans frequently compare Kimmel’s more biting humor to Fallon’s lighter, musical bits, or to Stephen Colbert’s politically sharp segments. And when one show stumbles, even momentarily, the others can’t resist taking a playful swipe.

In fact, Kimmel’s writers often keep tabs on his late-night colleagues. They know viewers crave these crossover jokes — little reminders that, while these hosts compete fiercely for ratings and viral clips, they share a kind of fraternity. Many have guest-starred on each other’s shows, traded skits, or even swapped jokes backstage at awards shows.

Why Fallon’s Sudden Cancellation Raised Eyebrows

The brief cancellation of Fallon’s show came amid a packed week in pop culture and politics — making the absence even more conspicuous. Rumors swirled on social media about possible celebrity drama or internal production issues, though NBC insiders quickly squashed more scandalous theories.

An anonymous crew member told entertainment outlet Deadline, “It was honestly just a domino effect — a couple of key segments fell through, there were timing conflicts with guests, and rather than throw together a half-baked episode, the decision was made to punt it and come back strong the next night.”

While seasoned audiences know live TV is a precarious balancing act, fans were still surprised — after all, Fallon rarely misses a show, even during busy news cycles. His easy-going, games-heavy format depends heavily on celebrity appearances and elaborate sketches. When guests pull out last-minute, it leaves producers scrambling to plug the gaps.

Kimmel’s Broader Take on Late-Night Chaos

During his monologue, Kimmel couldn’t resist using the cancellation to reflect — half seriously, half sarcastically — on how volatile late-night can be. “Some nights you have a perfect plan — a celebrity does something stupid, Congress does something stupid, or Elon Musk does… well, anything — and boom, you have a show. Other nights, your main guest cancels, your band calls in sick, and your writers are drunk at a Dodgers game. That’s when you wish you were Jimmy Fallon and could just say, ‘Eh, we’ll do it tomorrow.’”

The joke landed well, especially with longtime fans who know Kimmel has built his reputation on improvising through mishaps rather than bowing out. It’s part of why, even as streaming and social media have reshaped the industry, Kimmel remains one of the most trusted names in late-night TV.

The Ongoing “Jimmy vs. Jimmy” Dynamic

Of course, this isn’t the first time Kimmel has ribbed Fallon. The two have a running bit about how America can’t seem to keep their names straight. In interviews, both Jimmys have joked that their moms occasionally tune in to the wrong show. And while Fallon’s goofy, musical antics contrast with Kimmel’s sharper, more news-driven style, the mutual respect is genuine.

Behind the scenes, insiders say the two often text each other about sketches and swap advice on handling the grueling nightly grind. One former Jimmy Kimmel Live! writer even told Variety, “They love pretending to feud. It’s good TV — but they’re actually friends. If one of them really left the air, the other would probably be the first to send flowers and a bottle of scotch.”

What’s Next for Both Hosts

As for Fallon, he returned the very next night with a wink at the cancellation, telling viewers: “Sorry for ghosting you all. Turns out if you don’t do a show, people freak out. Who knew?” His audience greeted him with warm applause, a clear sign that a single missed episode did little to dent his popularity.

Meanwhile, Kimmel continues to enjoy a ratings boost from his playful reaction and a summer lineup of big-name guest hosts ready to cover him while he takes his annual vacation. It’s yet another reminder that in late-night, a little drama — even fake drama — goes a long way.

One thing’s certain: as long as these two Jimmys are on the air, viewers can count on the laughs to keep rolling, whether or not someone decides to take a night off.