Jimmy Kimmel reflects on challenges of 2025

Jimmy Kimmel has described the past year as “a near-death experience”.

On Sunday, the 58-year-old TV star won his second-ever Critics Choice Award for Best Talk Show, and after he accepted his honour, Kimmel reflected on the hardships he faced in 2025 - particularly after his show was temporarily suspended following his comments about the death of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.

In the winners room following his victory, Kimmel told the press: “It was almost a near-death experience for me.

“Of course, not literally, but I did feel a little bit like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn watching their own funeral when all this stuff happened.”

While Jimmy Kimmel Live! has since returned to the air, the chat show host has continued to face a barrage of attacks from US President Donald Trump, who has consistently called for the programme to be cancelled.

Reflecting on his Critics Choice Award win, Kimmel said: “To be here and to see that people reacted to it in not just a positive way, but in almost a desperate way, we’re, like, ‘Oh boy! When they come after the comedians, this is when we draw the line.’

In his acceptance speech, Kimmel joked that his fellow nominees - The Daily Show, Hot Ones, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen - “did not care enough” to attend the Critics Choice Awards but also paid a heartfelt tribute to his team for supporting him during the chat show’s suspension.

MICHAEL B. JORDAN HAILS SINNERS CAST

Michael B. Jordan is trying to be the “best version” of himself.

The 38-year-old actor had been nominated for the Best Actor honour at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards for his performance in Sinners, which was also put up for 16 other accolades, and Jordan has said that he is “looking forward” to the coming year and working on himself.

Speaking with Extra at the ceremony on Sunday, he said: “I’m looking forward to 2026. Just being better than it was last year. And continue to try to be the best version of myself.”

While Jordan missed out on the Best Actor award, with the accolade instead going to Timothee Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Sinners bagged four accolades: Best Young Actor (Miles Caton), Best Original Screenplay (Ryan Coogler), Best Casting and Ensemble (Francine Maisler), and Best Score (Ludwig Göransson).

Reflecting on the hard work of the Sinners creative team, Jordan said: “Listen, whenever you work really hard at something and you pour your everything into it, to be a part of this conversation ... and people show their appreciation for what you do and admiration for the work. It feels good, you know, and it feels very rewarding.”

Jordan also paid tribute to Sinners director Ryan Coogler, calling him “incredible”.