‘Don’t ever watch CBS again’: Jimmy Kimmel fumes over Stephen Colbert finale

WASHINGTON, DC: Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel turned CBS into the target of an on-air protest night as he blasted the network over Stephen Colbert's departure and urged viewers to stop watching CBS entirely after the final episode of 'The Late Show' airs Thursday.

Kimmel said his own ABC show would not air during Colbert’s finale and made clear he was furious about how the situation unfolded. “I think you know how I feel about the fact that they are being pushed out,” Kimmel told viewers. “I hope the people who did the pushing feel ashamed of themselves tonight, although I know they probably won’t.”

Jimmy Kimmel turns Stephen Colbert's farewell political

Kimmel congratulated Colbert during the emotional send-off but quickly shifted toward a direct attack on CBS leadership, telling viewers he hoped Colbert would appear on his ABC program “as often as possible”.

Then came the sharpest moment of the monologue. “I will be watching tomorrow night,” Kimmel said. “I hope that those of you who watch our show will also tune in to CBS for the last time. Don’t ever watch it again.”

He added, “But watch tomorrow night to wish Stephen and our friends at ‘The Late Show’ a fond farewell.”

Kimmel’s remarks continued a streak of visible frustration he showed during an appearance on Colbert’s show last week alongside fellow late-night hosts Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon and John Oliver.

Jimmy Kimmel questions Stephen Colbert's removal

During that appearance, Kimmel openly questioned why Colbert was being forced to defend late-night television at all.

“Why should you have to defend late-night? Why should that question even be asked?” Kimmel told Colbert. “Like Ryan Seacrest doesn’t get asked [about] ‘Wheel of Fortune’ or whatever the hell he’s hosting.”

When Colbert later asked the group whether anything had been left unsaid during the conversation marking the end of ‘The Late Show’, Kimmel immediately returned to the controversy surrounding CBS.

“The outrage that your show is being thrown off the air?” Kimmel responded. “I am waiting for angry Stephen to come out. I want to see you go nuts.”

The audience then began chanting Colbert’s name, adding to the emotional atmosphere surrounding the host’s final week.

Jon Stewart joins anti-Trump criticism

Colbert also hosted Jon Stewart on Tuesday night, where the conversation turned toward President Donald Trump and the political tone of late-night television.

Stewart praised Colbert as “my favourite person” before arguing that Trump’s public presence had unfairly defined comedy shows through political opposition.

“He can do whatever he wants to do, but the ubiquitous bloviating of the commander in chief has put us all as defined as who we are in opposition to him,” Stewart said. “And it's just a ridiculous framing.”

Stewart then escalated his criticism further, saying he hoped Americans would eventually “repudiate this putrid administration,” adding that such a moment would create “a joyful noise from the bowels of this great country”.