Jimmy Fallon will air a rerun of 'The Tonight Show' on May 21, as Stephen Colbert hosts his final 'Late Show' following CBS's cancellation last year.
Fallon's Gesture of Support
NBC confirmed that instead of a new episode, Fallon will air a rerun in support of Colbert's farewell. This move is echoed by Jimmy Kimmel, who will also step aside to allow 'The Late Show' a wide viewership on its concluding night.
Kimmel and Fallon Unite
'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' will also air a rerun, creating a moment of late-night unity. Kimmel, Fallon, along with Seth Meyers and John Oliver, appeared on 'The Late Show' recently for a reunion of the 'Strike Force Five' podcast, which they started during the 2023 Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Strike Force Five Reunion
The podcast was a financial lifeline for crew members of the late-night shows during the strikes when production was halted. The show's return saw Kimmel addressing his suspension by Disney over remarks made about Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel stated, “We have a lot of shows. 30,000 people watching each one, and it adds up. People watch us on YouTube now. People have a lot of different options and they keep coming to us.”
He added, “When I got knocked off the air for a few days, people canceled Disney+. Why aren’t people canceling Paramount+? Because you never had it in the first place?”
Looking Ahead
This collective gesture from Fallon and Kimmel underscores the camaraderie among late-night hosts despite network rivalries, ensuring Colbert's final episode receives the attention it deserves.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/jimmy-fallon-rerun-stephen-colbert-final-late-show-1236746180/
