In an era where rumors and speculation about the future of late-night television swirl at a dizzying pace, Jimmy Kimmel is not afraid to call out what he sees as pure fiction. The Emmy-winning host of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” recently sat down for a candid interview with Variety, and what began as a celebration of his latest Emmy nominations quickly turned into a passionate defense of his friend and fellow late-night legend Stephen Colbert.

Just days before CBS pulled the plug on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” — a decision that sent shockwaves through the entertainment world — Kimmel found himself facing a barrage of questions about the business of late-night, the realities of television economics, and the persistent rumor that Colbert’s show had been hemorrhaging $40 million a year.

Kimmel’s response? “Not a snowball’s chance in hell that’s accurate.”

Emmy Nominations and Humble Beginnings

At 57, Kimmel is enjoying a career high, landing four Primetime Emmy nominations this year. He’s recognized for his work as a talk show host, his short-form YouTube comedy series “The Rabbit Hole with Jimmy Kimmel,” and his role as both host and executive producer on ABC’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”

Reflecting on his journey, Kimmel admits he never dreamed of reaching this point. “I wanted to be a disc jockey in Las Vegas. If I’d gotten that job, I probably would have been fired and forced to leave,” he jokes. “But this is all much more than I ever imagined.”

Standing By Colbert

Kimmel’s admiration for Colbert is unmistakable. In fact, he recently paid for a billboard in Los Angeles declaring his support for Colbert at this year’s Emmys. “Voting for Stephen is the least we can do,” Kimmel says. “People are very upset about what happened to him and his show. I fully expect him to win the Emmy. Awards don’t always matter, but this time I think they do.”

Their camaraderie runs deep, especially after the recent writers’ strike, which brought late-night hosts together for regular conversations and a podcast that has since morphed into a lively group text chain. “We’re really close,” Kimmel explains. “We were all shocked and disappointed by what happened to Stephen, and also disappointed that more people on the right aren’t stepping up to say, ‘Hey, this isn’t okay.’ Silencing comedians and commentators isn’t what this country is about.”

Kimmel’s commitment to free speech is unwavering. “If Joe Biden used his influence to get Sean Hannity kicked off the air, I’d support Hannity,” he says. “Free speech is a founding principle. But people only seem to care about protecting it if you agree with them.”

Debunking the $40 Million Myth

The rumor that Colbert’s “Late Show” was losing $40 million a year has circulated in media circles, often cited as a reason for its cancellation. Kimmel, however, dismisses it outright.

“The idea that Stephen Colbert’s show was losing $40 million a year is beyond nonsensical,” he says. “These alleged insiders don’t know what they’re talking about. They focus only on advertising revenue and forget about affiliate fees, which are in the hundreds of millions — maybe billions. A portion of those fees goes toward late-night shows. It’s surprising how little the media understands about how the business works.”

Kimmel recalls similar rumors about his own show’s finances. “For the first ten years I did ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!,’ people claimed we weren’t making money — and we had five times as many viewers as we do now. Who knows what’s true? All I know is, they keep paying us. That’s all you need to know.”

The State of Late-Night: Far from Dead

Despite the doom-and-gloom headlines, Kimmel insists late-night television is thriving — just not in the way it used to. “Network TV is declining, sure. But more people are watching late-night than ever before, and that includes Johnny Carson’s era,” he says.

Kimmel points to digital platforms as proof. “Our monologues get between 2 and 5 million views every night. Seth Meyers gets 2 million on YouTube alone. Jon Stewart’s ‘Daily Show’ racks up 5 million views on a Monday night. Add in TV ratings, and the numbers are huge. People aren’t watching live on network TV like they used to, but they’re still watching — just in different places.”

He notes that streaming shows rarely reach the weekly viewership numbers that late-night clips pull in. “It’s a great storyline for the press that late-night is dead, but it’s simply not true. If you look at the numbers, we’re right up there with the top shows on Netflix and Hulu.”

Why Colbert Deserves the Emmy

Asked why he’s campaigning for Colbert, Kimmel is unequivocal. “He’s not just a sweet man, he’s moral and ethical. He’s humble and extremely smart. I hope whatever he does next is even more powerful than what he’s done so far.”

A Classic Matt Damon Story

No Kimmel interview would be complete without a Matt Damon anecdote. Kimmel recounts a dinner at his house where Damon choked on a pork rib. “It was stuck in his throat for an hour and a half. His brother was there. I said, ‘We’ve got to get him to the hospital, because if he dies in my house, I’m going to prison for the rest of my life.’ We tried the Heimlich, but it was too far down. Eventually, eating bits of bread helped push it down. Bread saved him.”

Thoughts on Trump and the Political Climate

Kimmel can’t help but comment on the current political climate, including a recent moment when Donald Trump was booed at a WWE event. “It cheered me up. If Trump is getting booed at wrestling, America is starting to catch on.”

The Future of Late-Night

As the dust settles from Colbert’s cancellation and the rumors swirl about the fate of late-night television, Kimmel remains optimistic. “People will always want to laugh, and they’ll always want truth. The medium may change, but the need doesn’t.”

In a world obsessed with metrics and headlines, Kimmel’s message is refreshingly honest: late-night isn’t dead, and Stephen Colbert’s legacy — both on and off the air — is secure.