Jimmy Kimmel announced to his audience on Tuesday, November 11, that his late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, would be off the air for a few days. For those who didn’t tune into the episode, some viewers were concerned about what this short-term hiatus means for the comedian. After all, ABC suspended his show for about a week just two months prior.
So, why is Kimmel off the air, and when is he expected to return? Below, here’s what you need to know about Kimmel’s temporary hiatus this week.
Yes, but only for a brief time. Kimmel announced during his November 11 show that he and his crew would “take the next couple nights off.”
Kimmel’s show is on a brief hiatus due to the death of its house bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, who died at the age of 59 on November 11. He is survived by his wife and children.
A cause of death for Escobedo was not immediately disclosed. However, Kimmel thanked the medical staff at UCLA Health for taking care of his late friend “during these awful few months.”
Neither Kimmel nor anyone from Escobedo’s inner circle has revealed whether or not the musician was battling an illness. Page Six reported that Escobedo had complications from a liver transplant.
There is no definitive answer on which day Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be back on the air, but his hiatus will only be a “couple” of nights, he said.
