As Jimmy Kimmel prepares to host the Academy Awards for the fourth time, he’s letting slip that his days as the frontman of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!!!” might be numbered.
In an exclusive chat with the Los Angeles Times, the 56-year-old TV host revealed that his current contract might be the last one. “I think this is my final contract,” Kimmel said. “I hate to even mention it because everyone’s laughing at me now — each time I think that, and then it turns out to not be the case.”
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Marking the 21st anniversary of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has made Kimmel reflect on his career. Even with this milestone, he feels the remaining two-plus years on his contract are plenty. “I still have a little more than two years left on my contract, and that seems pretty good,” he said. “That seems like enough.”
As he thinks about leaving late-night TV, Kimmel is unsure what he’ll do next. “It might not be anything that anyone other than me is aware of,” he hinted, mentioning his interests in cooking, drawing, and even sculpture.
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Kimmel reflected on his grandfather’s passing, noting how it influenced him. Seeing his grandfather’s unfulfilled dreams had a deep impact, making him think about his own life. “I know that when I die, if I’m lucky enough to die on my own terms in my bedding, I’m going to think, ‘Oh, I was never able to get to this, and I was never able to get to that,’” he said. “I just know it about myself.”
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As he gets ready for the Academy Awards, the potential finality of his contract adds excitement to his fourth time hosting. Kimmel is known for blending humor and sincerity in his career, and this Oscars hosting might be a turning point as he considers ending this chapter.
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Though the details of Kimmel’s life after “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” remain unclear, his open discussion about his current contract’s end makes fans think about the legacy he will leave. With the Academy Awards on the horizon, Kimmel’s dual role as host and potential career changer adds an extra layer of significance to this year’s Oscars, making it an important moment in his accomplished career.
