Late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel recently appeared on the Politickin' podcast, where he candidly discussed his decision to step away from hosting next year's Academy Awards. Kimmel opened up about his son's health struggles and the toll that hosting the Oscars takes on his personal and professional life.

"When I'm focused on the Oscar, I'm less focused on the show," Kimmel explained, shedding light on his decision. "And I just decided I didn't want to deal with that this year. It was just too much last year." Reflecting on his past hosting stints, Kimmel acknowledged that he had successfully hosted the ceremony for two consecutive years before feeling the need to take a break.

Kimmel went on to reveal the challenges of juggling his late-night show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", alongside preparing for the Oscars. He shared that at times, all of his writers would be reassigned to work on Oscar-related content, which proved to be a distraction and made it difficult to fulfill promises made after the awards show.

In addition to the demanding nature of the Oscars hosting job, Kimmel highlighted the financial aspect, mentioning that the pay was "nothing." He disclosed that he was paid a mere $15,000 for his work on the ceremony in 2024. Despite having full creative control over the Oscars, Kimmel emphasized that the job requires immense time and effort.

As for the upcoming Oscars host, Kimmel acknowledged that there are plenty of talented individuals who could fill the role effectively. However, he stated that many of them choose not to pursue the demanding gig due to the time commitment and potential pressure associated with the job. Kimmel also touched upon the perception of the hosting role being "thankless," although he believed it could be rewarding when things went well.

During the podcast interview, Kimmel also provided an update on his seven-year-old son, Billy, who has undergone multiple heart surgeries. He shared that Billy had his third open heart surgery in May and is now doing great. Kimmel expressed his gratitude towards the Children's Hospital in L.A. for their support, highlighting their exceptional care.

The Politickin' podcast, which features unlikely trio hosts California Gov. Gavin Newsom, former football running back Marshawn Lynch, and power agent Doug Hendrickson, focuses on having important conversations. Kimmel's appearance on the podcast shed light on his personal reasons for stepping away from hosting the prestigious Oscars in 2025, as well as an update on his son's positive recovery.