Rosie O’Donnell Hints at Daytime TV Return and Addresses Kimmel Rumors

Alyssa Norwin Tue, July 28, 2026 at 2:25 PM UTC

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Comedian & actress Rosie O'Donnell during an interview with Seth Meyers on July 23, 2026 - Paula Lobo/NBC via Getty Images

Rosie O’Donnell is set to guest host for Jimmy Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live! next month, and a rumor is already swirling that she’s aiming to make the late-night spot permanent. O’Donnell addressed the speculation herself after receiving a comment request from a tabloid about whether she’s planning on going behind Kimmel’s back to nab his late-night slot.

“Ha funny – and completely untrue,” O’Donnell said in an email response, which she took a screenshot of and posted to Instagram. “I leave for Ireland the day I’m done guest hosting for Jimmy – where my child starts the 8th grade – I’m not interested in doing late night – daytime however would be interesting.”

From 1996 to 2002, O’Donnell hosted her daytime talk show The Rosie O’Donnell Show. She was also a moderator on The View in 2006 and 2007, then again for a brief period in 2014. In 2012, she hosted The Rosie Show on OWN.

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

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O’Donnell moved to Ireland in 2025 amid Donald Trump‘s second term as president.

Her post about a potential daytime television return piqued the interest of fans, who flooded the comments section with messages of support. “I think I speak for millennials everywhere when I say please bring The Rosie O’Donnell show back so we can feel alive again,” someone wrote, while another added, “Bring back your daytime talk show. I loved watching it as a kid.”

Another commenter said, ““Daytime would be interesting” just made every hair on my body stand up. Your daytime talk show is at the absolute top of any list anywhere for me,” and someone else wrote, “Daytime?!!?!! Omg yesss please bring back the Rosie O’Donnell show!!!”

O’Donnell’s guest stint on Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be her first foray into hosting late night. Kimmel is currently on a two-month summer break from his talk show and has tapped celebs to fill in, including Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, Colman Domingo, and more.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”