Overview
- O’Donnell posted a screenshot of an emailed reply on Monday, July 27, saying the tabloid claim she is angling to replace Jimmy Kimmel is “completely untrue.”
- She wrote that she is not interested in doing late night and added “daytime however would be interesting,” prompting strong fan enthusiasm for a comeback.
- O’Donnell remains scheduled to guest-host Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the week beginning August 17 and says she will return to Ireland right after because her son starts eighth grade.
- The Globe tabloid reported she was “eyeing a full-time return to late night” and might work with ABC executives to secure Kimmel’s role, a claim the star disputed in her reply.
- Industry context: Kimmel extended his ABC contract to May 2027 and several daytime talk shows recently ended, creating openings that make a daytime return a realistic possibility for networks and for O’Donnell.