Jimmy Kimmel has had a change of heart regarding retirement from his late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” The host, who had previously expressed his desire to retire, revealed on his new Spotify podcast, “Strike Force Five,” that he now realizes he enjoys working.
Kimmel hosts the podcast alongside fellow network TV late-night show personalities Seth Meyers, John Oliver, Jimmy Fallon, and Stephen Colbert. In the debut episode, Kimmel discussed how he had considered retiring around the time the strike started. However, he now acknowledges the value of work.
Despite his previous inclination to retire, Kimmel signed a three-year contract extension with ABC in 2022, ensuring that he will continue as the host and executive producer of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” until 2025.
The strike Kimmel referred to in his podcast is related to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, which began in May. The strike was initiated after the union failed to secure a new contract agreement with Hollywood studios and streamers. As a result, late-night shows, including “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” went off the air in May.
In addition to the writer’s strike, SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors and performers, also went on strike in July after failing to reach a new contract agreement with major studios. The issues at the center of the stalemate include wages, streaming residuals, and the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) in the entertainment industry.
During the podcast, Kimmel emphasized the importance of supporting the staff members who were financially affected by the strike, stating that all the money they make from the show goes to them.
The “Strike Force Five” podcast, which aims to support the staff members, launched on Wednesday. The series will be available on various major podcast platforms. Each host, including Kimmel, will take turns as the moderator, and the series is expected to run for at least twelve episodes.
It seems that Kimmel’s newfound appreciation for work has prompted him to continue hosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and engage in supporting his staff during the industry-wide strikes.