Howard Stern challenged Jimmy Kimmel over his friendship with fellow late-night host Jimmy Fallon during Kimmel’s September 29 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
The exchange became one of the most pointed moments of Kimmel’s week of broadcasts from Brooklyn, where Stern was among a high-profile lineup of guests announced in ABC’s official guest announcement.
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Howard Stern questions the friendship
Stern told Kimmel he was not convinced that Kimmel and Fallon were as close as they appear on television.
His comments focused on the two hosts’ repeated public interactions and the way they have joked about their relationship despite being part of the same late-night field.
Kimmel pushed back by saying he enjoys spending time with Fallon and questioned why he would devote time to maintaining a relationship that was only for show.
Kimmel also said he was scheduled to have dinner with Fallon during the same visit to New York, presenting that plan as evidence that the friendship was genuine rather than a television routine.
Stern continued to suggest that Kimmel may be trying to demonstrate that competing late-night hosts can get along, while Kimmel responded that he had no reason to stage such a friendship for the benefit of viewers.
Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC future remains a separate question
The interview came as Kimmel’s long-term future at ABC remained under discussion.
ABC has continued to schedule Jimmy Kimmel Live! as part of its late-night lineup, and the network’s official episode guide listed Stern for the September 29 episode.
However, reports earlier in September said ABC and Kimmel’s representatives had begun talks about the show’s future beyond the 2026-27 television season.
The program was previously covered by a shorter renewal agreement rather than the longer contracts traditionally associated with the show, leaving additional negotiations necessary for any continuation beyond the current arrangement.
ABC has not announced that the program is ending, and the network continues to list Jimmy Kimmel Live! among its active late-night productions.
That uncertainty has given added significance to public support from fellow television personalities, including Stern and Fallon, after Kimmel’s show faced an earlier suspension and renewed scrutiny over its political comedy.
A busy period for Howard Stern
Stern’s appearance also came during a major change in the distribution of his own programme.
The Howard Stern Show returned for a new season on SiriusXM on September 14, 2026, with a new HBO Max version beginning later that week.
The format gives audiences a live SiriusXM broadcast and an adapted streamable episode for HBO Max, expanding access to Stern’s interviews and studio discussions.
The announcement said the show would return with the new distribution arrangement.
Stern has remained a significant figure in American radio and celebrity interviewing since moving to SiriusXM in 2006, while Kimmel has hosted his ABC programme since its 2003 debut.
The pair have maintained a public friendship for years, with Kimmel appearing on Stern’s programme and Stern making regular appearances connected to Kimmel’s late-night broadcasts.
What happens next
For viewers, the immediate question is whether Kimmel and ABC will reach an agreement covering the period after the 2026-27 season.
ABC’s continued scheduling of the show means no cancellation has been announced.
Any future change would likely involve negotiations over the programme’s budget, format, schedule and the length of Kimmel’s commitment to the network.
Meanwhile, the Stern-Fallon exchange has added another public chapter to the long-running conversation about how much of late-night television is personal friendship, performance or both.
Kimmel’s response was clear: he says the relationship with Fallon is real, even if the two hosts continue to turn that relationship into material for television.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Howard Stern say to Jimmy Kimmel?
Stern questioned whether Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon were genuinely friends or were exaggerating their relationship for television.
How did Jimmy Kimmel respond?
Kimmel said he enjoys spending time with Fallon and argued that he would not maintain a pretend friendship without a reason.
When did Howard Stern appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live!?
Stern appeared on the September 29, 2026 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, recorded during the show’s Brooklyn week.
Is Jimmy Kimmel Live! ending?
ABC has not announced that the show is ending, although reports said the network and Kimmel’s representatives were discussing its future beyond the 2026-27 season.
Where can viewers watch Howard Stern’s programme?
The Howard Stern Show airs live on SiriusXM, with an adapted streamable version also available on HBO Max.
Fact-Checked: Key facts were checked against ABC programming information, Howard Stern’s official site and SiriusXM-related announcements.
Disclaimer: Contract discussions and future programming decisions may change as ABC and Jimmy Kimmel continue negotiations.