The lineup includes Stephen Colbert, Nas, Olivia Rodrigo, and The Strokes, with Kimmel also planning sketches and street segments that spotlight New York City’s energy.

Jimmy Kimmel is taking his late-night circus back to his hometown, and this time, he is bringing some of the biggest names in comedy, music, and television along for the ride.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live” returned to Brooklyn on Monday night for a special weeklong run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, marking the sixth time the ABC host has staged his show in New York City.

The run is already drawing buzz, not just for its guest lineup, but for what it represents: a rare late-night crossover that will put Stephen Colbert, a fellow network rival and longtime friend, on Kimmel’s stage.

The timing of the Brooklyn takeover is not accidental. Kimmel, who grew up in the Mill Basin neighborhood of Brooklyn before moving to Las Vegas in his youth, has made a tradition of taking his show back home every couple of years.

The return allows him to highlight his roots, celebrate New York City, and give East Coast audiences a chance to experience late-night TV in person.

For many fans, this is the closest they will ever get to seeing the behind-the-scenes chaos of a Hollywood talk show without traveling to Los Angeles.

Opening Monday’s show, Kimmel wasted no time in reminding viewers that his heart still belongs to New York.

“This is the only time of year I can walk down Flatbush Avenue and have people shout at me without thinking they’re heckling,” he joked, earning big laughs from the packed crowd.

He also acknowledged the strangeness of bringing his show east in the middle of a heated political season, saying, “I feel like half of my jokes will land differently here, because everyone’s yelling at a different mayor.”

The guest lineup is head-turning in its own right. Stephen Colbert, the “Late Show” host who tapes just a few subway stops away at the Ed Sullivan Theater, is slated to appear later in the week.

Their meeting has been teased as a friendly crossover rather than a late-night rivalry showdown. Both men have spoken openly about their mutual respect and their occasional late-night text exchanges.

As Kimmel quipped in a pre-show interview, “We don’t see each other as competitors. We’re like two guys who got invited to the same wedding, sitting at the same table, wondering how much longer the toasts will go.”

Musical guests add to the star power. Hip-hop legend Nas, a Queens native, is expected to perform midweek, bringing a distinctly New York flavor to the Brooklyn run.

Rising pop star Olivia Rodrigo, who has quickly become a favorite among late-night audiences, is also on the roster, as well as The Strokes, another New York City staple.

Kimmel has said that curating a “New York-heavy” lineup was intentional, explaining, “If you’re doing a show in Brooklyn and you don’t include at least one local legend, you’ve failed.”

The energy of the Brooklyn crowd has already set this run apart. Attendees described the opening taping as louder, rowdier, and more unpredictable than the show’s usual Los Angeles recordings.

“There’s something about Jimmy being on his home turf,” one audience member shared afterward. “You could tell he was more relaxed, more playful. He knew this was his people.”

In addition to celebrity interviews and music, Kimmel is planning several pre-taped sketches that will spotlight New York itself. Early teasers suggest he’ll be teaming up with local icons and making surprise visits to familiar Brooklyn landmarks.

Viewers can also expect the return of Kimmel’s popular “Lie Witness News” segment, filmed this week on the streets of Manhattan, where unsuspecting pedestrians are asked to weigh in on entirely fictional stories.

The Brooklyn residency also highlights the broader state of late-night television, which has been evolving in the wake of the Hollywood writers’ strike and shifting viewing habits.

Kimmel, along with Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver, co-hosts a podcast called “Strike Force Five,” which they launched during the strike to support their out-of-work staff.

That collaboration broke new ground for late-night personalities who, for decades, were considered rivals.

The camaraderie forged during that period has carried over, making Colbert’s guest appearance this week feel more natural than it might have years ago.

Fans are already speculating about whether the Kimmel-Colbert sit-down will produce memorable late-night history.

Both men are known for their willingness to needle politicians and poke fun at themselves, and Kimmel has hinted that their conversation may include a few behind-the-scenes stories about the “Strike Force Five” era.

“When you get two late-night hosts in the same room,” he said, “it usually ends in tequila or tears.”

The Brooklyn run will continue through Friday, with new guests added to the lineup daily. For Kimmel, it’s both a homecoming and a showcase of what late-night television can still offer in an age dominated by streaming and viral clips.

“You can watch highlights on YouTube the next morning,” he told the crowd, “but you can’t feel the energy of a Brooklyn audience through your phone.”

For now, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in Brooklyn is shaping up to be more than a novelty. It’s a statement about the enduring appeal of late-night television when it leans into authenticity, roots, and just the right amount of chaos.

Whether it’s the roar of the local crowd, the thrill of unexpected crossovers, or simply the joy of seeing a hometown kid make good, the week promises to deliver plenty of moments that will keep fans talking long after the cameras stop rolling.