Jimmy Kimmel Says Stephen Colbert Writers Asked Him for Jobs

Jimmy Kimmel could have some new faces on staff once Stephen Colbert‘s show comes to an end.

During his Tuesday, Sept. 30 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert — as the two hosts appeared as guests on one another’s latest episodes during Kimmel’s week in Brooklyn — Kimmel, 57, revealed that some of Colbert’s staff members already asked him about potentially boarding Jimmy Kimmel Live! before The Late Show comes to an end in 2026.

“Can I tell you something about your staff? You have a great staff and your writers and your show are absolutely fantastic. And I mean that. I’m not just saying that because we’re on TV and I hope you know that. And I think you’re a great person,” Kimmel told Colbert, 61.

“But I will say, the first 10 members of your staff came right up to me and said, ‘I will leave today if you hire me,’ ” he added.

Colbert took the comment in stride, smiling as his audience laughed along. “As well they should,” he said of his staff.

“Matter of fact, are you hiring? Because I’m available in June if you need. I’ll be Guillermo’s sidekick if that’s OK,” he joked. “Happy to do that.”

Elsewhere during their discussion, Kimmel told Colbert that what happened to his staff was “terrible” and a “shame,” noting that they “do such a great show and people love the show.”

Colbert added that the Late Show team is the “greatest group of people I’ve ever worked with” and that it took “20 years to put this team together.”

The banter between Kimmel and Colbert comes over two months after Colbert revealed his Late Show would be wrapping in May. He made the announcement during his July 17 episode. CBS told PEOPLE in a statement at the time that the move — which came days after Colbert slammed CBS’ parent company Paramount for giving Donald Trump $16 million in a settlement — was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.”

The Trump settlement occurred while Paramount was in the midst of a merger with the entertainment company Skydance, which required approval from Trump’s administration. That merger was completed on Aug. 7.

Kimmel has since supported Colbert amid the news, writing on his Instagram Stories, “Love you Stephen. F— you and all your Sheldons CBS.” He also encouraged Emmy voters to vote for Colbert in the Outstanding Talk Series category by putting up a billboard in L.A. Colbert’s show won the Emmy on Sept. 14.

Elsewhere during Kimmel and Colbert’s late-night appearances on Tuesday, Kimmel shared some more insight into his own show’s temporary hiatus for a week, as Colbert shared his admiration for his friend.

“I’m so happy that your show is back on the air,” Colbert said. “Because we’ve known each other for 20 years but we’ve only really gotten to know each other well the last few years.”

“And I just gotta catch up on getting to know you because the more I get to know you, the more I admire you as a leader, I know you as a friend and, here’s something I didn’t know, is that you’re funny.”

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The Late Show will end in May 2026 after 10 seasons. Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC.