# 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)

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-22 18:07 UTC · Category: Entertainment

## Executive Summary
Jimmy Kimmel thanks CBS for his ratings surge following the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show.

## Intelligence Brief
Recent coverage across multiple outlets details a significant moment in late-night television involving Jimmy Kimmel, CBS, and Stephen Colbert. According to reports from Variety, HuffPost, Yahoo, The Independent, TV Insider, A.V. Club, LateNighter, The Daily Beast, and AOL.com, Jimmy Kimmel publicly thanked CBS for his ratings gains and record-breaking June ratings. This increase followed the network's decision to ax Stephen Colbert's program. In addition to addressing the ratings boost, Kimmel discussed offering Colbert a standing invitation to guest host his show. Coverage notes that Colbert turned down the major job offer, feeling the return would be premature after his Late Show cancellation.


Outlets such as Yahoo, The Daily Beast, and LateNighter emphasize the backhanded nature of Kimmel's message to CBS regarding the Colbert debacle. Variety frames the exclusive details around Kimmel thanking the network, inviting Colbert, and previewing the upcoming summer season of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Additional reporting from TV Insider highlights various factors in the ratings surge, mentioning appearances by Tiffany Haddish, Byron Allen, and Gutfeld. The Daily Beast references an eye-popping ratings record in connection with Trump, while AOL.com raises broader questions about the current state and future of late-night television following these shifts. Background context provided by the headlines centres on the abrupt cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show on CBS and the subsequent shifts in viewership across the late-night landscape. Kimmel's own program achieved an all-time monthly ratings high during June, drawing heightened industry attention.


The interaction between Kimmel and Colbert underscores ongoing professional dynamics among network hosts during a period of considerable volatility and programming changes. Coverage does not yet specify the full extent of CBS's internal reactions or whether other network executives have responded publicly to the taunts. Looking ahead, observers and viewers will monitor the continued performance of late-night broadcasts as networks adjust to altered viewer habits and shifting time slots. Additional developments regarding the summer run of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, hosted by Kimmel, remain a focal point for the entertainment press. Coverage does not yet specify whether Colbert will reconsider guest-hosting opportunities at a later date or announce new professional projects following his departure from CBS. Further updates will depend on official announcements from the networks and the involved television personalities.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| HuffPost | Jimmy Kimmel Taunts CBS Over Colbert Debacle With A Brutal Backhanded Message | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxQN1owdDZ1SVhvMEZtWFkwUk5hbnZ4RXVfQ3NHdjNhVHU4bms0UmNhQWJsSklMZFI1ZkR4NGowTU9peDYtQnVOWTdQZ0tnZTZ6RGRiNHBlMUdlSWZYYlhxS3ZUeWNSd0R3VG5UaUdGMTRTdWZJaTYxenpkV2xmb1RpTWJfRzhtSUd6aHhZNA?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Jimmy Kimmel Offered Stephen Colbert A Late Night Return But Felt It Was 'Premature' | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxQYWMyaXlyM3U4UVdvenA5eG9Sd1B4TlgzQ2FmSFRDVUl3dkFtOTJodDhTbTZvVU5POHZ6NWxLYzQwNTQ2TmgzanRJemNRbVBRTkh3eW1Sc2xJU1pkWmpidEZ6TXdRcTgzUDYyeEtYQnVPOTdzWXdWaHRGVWZZRUotUG9HeGVZemUyMGR3czQyWVlVQy1sVXpTOE1B?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Jimmy Kimmel Thanks CBS for His Ratings Boost After Network Axed Stephen Colbert | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxOM0RtcUZFWldyWkV5a2M3VnpTWnRfY2NrZXQ1VEljVUgxamtjYjRZNzI2dHhvajZjQkdFQ0tDSThXQzFnYjRQNlVkVUZ1RjNlcEkyNEpYLTV6SHhkN2FPLUh1ems2UThkM3ZOaEs2VnM4cWttNFNSWkE2dnJwVXFHdEllbnZVVUZnUEVkR0dOeFFiZlJPXzFJZU53?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | After Late Show Cancellation, Stephen Colbert Said No to Jimmy Kimmel’s Big Offer | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxPekI2ZS1qM292c2ZSS052Zm9xajQxdmZKSmhrWWRpSjFiN1Z4X25KZXlVMjRSQWZCNmNRVWF1YzJjSEZENVhNeWxPaVhwelNhNU1OMklYampfaERqck91UmlCYk55bkpNU0VFaGxUM2JHbEZMZEJKdEU1Mk9OelNkdlAwaDJnTG1HcXRjOURKblZHMGY5OXhsZ0ZLa1YzUW5kM2tR?oc=5) |
| TV Insider | ‘Kimmel’ Gets Tiffany Haddish Ratings Boost, Plus Byron Allen, Gutfeld & More | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxNUkxvc0ZTRUcyQUcwWWdqZGxIUVg5Wi04SGRralg0QUNSQXhSUmpNUmlfa09pQzZ1aDRYN3drRXAwcVJwV1kyRXJOYmlFY3l6Tkh2dk1WdU0xNEI3RzJwU0dOS2xMSGRPX2ZOVFhTdGN3UEFVM3prUG1ULWtRMGtwNUxkMnFQSlhkWk9peS0ybEdoekc3Wi1icnZfMHN1M01ONFI0c1NvbzQ3dw?oc=5) |
| The Independent | Jimmy Kimmel thanks CBS for record-breaking June ratings after network axed Stephen Colbert’s show | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisAFBVV95cUxQVjJPUEJSdmFZNGlNcWRWa1A1V1BybVdPenNvZ3FXdU9SbkRVbnB1YmFDU1ZHdk55ZHlZSXZZYUpiVm1mbi1FcVBHMDktZDVaTlhPSm1lUmc0cXAzM21UQXhpbVQ0VmRjNUd6YWVnQ0tsZEk2WkZTbTVRamd1RzloRUJNTjE4ZWwzUGhoa0Q1cXB1RFJwV2Q4N0VsQjNhYW1INmJsLWhtYmh3WXg1TzktMg?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Jimmy Kimmel Taunts CBS Over Colbert Debacle With A Brutal Backhanded Message | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxNcmlya3c1ZW9JemxrODNzQXFIWW56VXc5VlRsUG0zRTEzMzZyWTU4QVRQQ1BWYXZvczNjNE14dlhEYmR0eEFaSlZFb2dMOG1mZzdfTnpycmVjRDh3cUpndlZRVGdWV1EzeW1CdzFwelJFdXB6NTJ2Qlg2MklKSWN5WFJ2dXdZaS1lQ2xLYm94X2huMjloeEE?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | After Late Show Cancellation, Stephen Colbert Said No to Jimmy Kimmel’s Big Offer | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxPdnExZGlIS3Z4MnZxQnBlaHdUTzR0YUdnXzd4TWVlaTgyOEtFSHdHS0VsRGk5cHE2R3p5eXZqRzl0R1V4cWNITzFWSVE5cnlaRU9wVXdrSHBoY1R5RjZxM08tck5pd3dTLW9zTHBJUWp3OEVlb3FsX0l6dVhNcUFEbFlGS2tGZnJiOUZZbHlMTVFRb1lSLWYxOFVzVGV4T1VpZDg0?oc=5) |
| The Independent | Jimmy Kimmel thanks CBS for record-breaking June ratings after network axed Stephen Colbert’s show | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwAFBVV95cUxOdmJVMmxLc2NyajdCOWJvS2N2amI0TmdYM2FUb1JGMHo5MkVmVlJYZUJQcS0wVmQ4cVEzME1wdzBxVU1NY2xFVDNFcDFPemVoOGVlU2I2cDZrUEltRDhDZ21zcVFLdXBwcVNTT3lUSGlid0VuN0s1YklDbjZoNzB3UldyZUI3d2tFYkt0N0RTcldlLW1Ia21GNGF5NUNoM0F0aHE1cVMwWWxvaW9SYktxX1o1dGtKU3NucTc5cXhOVWI?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Jimmy Kimmel Made Stephen Colbert a Standing Offer To Guest Host | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinAFBVV95cUxOV2ctLUIyMWhTY2l5dzRERFNxdHVGNWlPUktUdmFpVG5CVS1Vb1NPdmNiLUhNaVBlTmRYSWx4YmhidzRtZndLdFRiLWV3X0I4b05TR0diQWMzQmxJNXJiaDdIZ2d6dENzd2NHejJLTDN3OFhUamxjWTBKS2pYZXctNlBFUGhmUDFwSThLQkJMSkFBR2VfX3U5QkNGVU8?oc=5) |
| A.V. Club | Stephen Colbert passed on guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel's show | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMib0FVX3lxTFBKMGJPdUVROUVTaXFDUHpfazVNYlh3dXV1S2xUM2Y5TVItRjlrUnlUSnNweGloY01RUG9RSlh1a24xVHhGeTBQeTJiaDlaQ3hMVVpLQjlKZlJGUDFCN19Gb29qck9tODNNT3hJcm1TQQ?oc=5) |
| LateNighter | ‘Feels Premature’: Jimmy Kimmel Says Colbert Declined Guest-Host Offer | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigAFBVV95cUxNSmM2bDI5X2RETXBBZTdLRlM3TjRvUUlKTjgtZTY0S3JUb2lQLURZZ3FXdHNQdWJRNzdxSkdFbTFXdllDYWdSYXZwVExfbk1IU2diTmRzMEZyWlhOMXRieHRLRGlnYTdiMGkzSnVHd2FYM2Rzd2Zwak9OUkluSFBseg?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Stephen Colbert passed on guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel's show | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxQNHhaWnhDcVRSSG1naW5Wa3dTOU1yWmh2clc4V1VXekJjdGk5c0JjX1RpMElBQ3E3ajN6dE9BV055NVoxekJfLUJPNmdKczg0bm5KYTFLZ0RQNEhWR2d4M1hiRW9yaUp4WS1IQ3pHcHhxaEZpZnV1QkFNbWxYbXB0MmJOeDBIVG9CaDVxRklFSElralhYT1RjVE1RZ0NxNGR4?oc=5) |
| The Daily Beast | Jimmy Kimmel Reveals Major Job Offer As Guest Host Colbert Turned Down | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxQVnR4UXFvcm9SdS1EamhGRVpvM0w1UkZ4RXBxNHhHMXJKdHhrMWVldmQtVjdIRFM4UDJMaGNXbGQzV0pyemFJdEUzZHRYNUVjNjEtNzZqVF8tMzhORXBXRUZielhaSXN0a05udGJEVXRmNWQwUXZUMktfd05DVG9LbEQ0RTF2M2F0ckxldnA3ek03cU95QlhEbjFfdV9yWS1yQm9Nb1ZhUnU3eXE5T05n?oc=5) |
| TV Insider | Jimmy Kimmel Taunts CBS Over His Ratings, Invites Colbert to Guest Host Show | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxPQXNDTlFGYUxZVDdtQU16WmVUbDI2QXN4OFYtc3FaSTJtZEhRQVRtRjRSUU03WXJjM09fUHNQcHpuMW53Z3Qza1RpZkhSMVgwbkd1NXpVa1pQcjFrZ1B3S1h0aFZoQ1FKZmxGZ01QcUxTZVI4TnBTdXp2YXZNUFV6Nm9jV2F5dw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-22/jimmy-kimmel-thanks-cbs-for-his-ratings-gains-invites-stephen-colbert-to-guest*