Jaafar Jackson" - Jimmy Kimmel Live Schedule For The Week Of 7/20/2026 in 2026

Jaafar Jackson Makes His Late-Night Debut on Kimmel This Week — Here's the Full Schedule Monday night television just got a lot more interesting. Jaafar Jackson, the 29-year-old nephew of Michael Jackson who's been cast to play the King of Pop in Antoine Fuqua's upcoming biopic, is stepping into the late-night spotlight for the first time. His appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live this Wednesday marks his first major talk show interview since the casting announcement broke the internet last year. If you've been following the Michael movie buzz — or honestly, if you just want to know who's on Kimmel this week — here's the complete lineup for July 20 through July 25, 2026. Monday, July 20: Season Premiere Energy Kimmel returns from his summer hiatus with a bang. The season premiere typically runs a little longer than standard episodes, often clocking in around 45 minutes of actual content once you strip the commercials. Guests:

• Ryan Reynolds — Promoting Deadpool & Wolverine* (still dominating the box office in its third week)
• Maya Hawke — Talking Stranger Things* final season and her new album Chaos Angel*
• Musical guest: Tate McRae — Performing "Greedy" and a new track from her sophomore album Reynolds on a season premiere is classic Kimmel — self-deprecating, slightly chaotic, and inevitably involving some kind of bit with Guillermo. Hawke brings the indie cred. McRae brings the TikTok demographic. Solid Monday. Tuesday, July 21: The Comedy Heavy-Hitter Guests:
• John Mulaney — His first late-night appearance since the Baby J* tour wrapped and the Everybody's in LA* Netflix special dropped
• Quinta Brunson — Abbott Elementary* season 4 premiere talk (yes, it's already renewed)
• Musical guest: Dominic Fike — Acoustic set, probably "Mona Lisa" and something unreleased Mulaney on Kimmel is always appointment viewing. The chemistry between them goes back to Mulaney's SNL writing days. Expect a story about his kid, a story about his mom, and at least one joke that makes Kimmel genuinely lose it. Wednesday, July 22: The Main Event — Jaafar Jackson This is the one people will clip. This is the one entertainment sites will write about Thursday morning. Guests:
• Jaafar Jackson — First major talk show interview since being cast as Michael Jackson
• Antoine Fuqua — Director of Michael*, joining for a segment (rare for a director to appear alongside their lead)
• Musical guest: Jaafar Jackson — Performing "Got to Be There" — his debut single released earlier this month why this matters. The Casting That Changed Everything When Lionsgate announced Jaafar Jackson as Michael in January 2025, the reaction was. mixed. Skeptics pointed to his limited acting credits (a few short films, some music videos). Supporters pointed to the obvious: he's a Jackson. The resemblance is uncanny. The movement quality is genetic. What most coverage missed: Jaafar has been preparing for this since childhood. Not in an "acting coach since age three" way — in a "growing up in the Jackson family compound, studying his uncle's tapes, learning the breath between the moves" way. There's a difference. Fuqua reportedly screen-tested over 300 actors. Jaafar wasn't handed the role. He won it. What to Watch For Wednesday Night Kimmel's interview style with first-timers tends to follow a pattern: disarming humor, a few softball questions, then something genuinely thoughtful. With Jaafar, expect: - The inevitable "what did your family think" question (Tito, his father, has been vocal in support)
• A clip from Michael* — likely the first footage shown publicly
• Kimmel asking about the moonwalk. Jaafar will probably do it. The audience will lose their minds.
• Fuqua chiming in on the pressure of directing a biopic where the subject's estate is involved (the film is produced in cooperation with the Michael Jackson Estate, which brings both access and scrutiny) The musical performance is the wildcard. "Got to Be There" is a bold choice — a Michael song from 1971, when Michael was 13. Jaafar releasing it as his debut single signals confidence. Performing it live on Kimmel, in front of his uncle's former bandmates (rumored to be in the house band for the night), signals something else entirely. Thursday, July 23: The Prestige Drama Pivot Guests:
• Pedro Pascal — The Last of Us* season 2 production updates (filming wraps in Vancouver next month)
• Florence Pugh — Thunderbolts* press tour kickoff
• Musical guest: The National — Performing from their new album Laugh Track* (yes, another one — they're prolific) Pascal and Pugh on the same night is a casting director's dream. Both are in that rare tier of actors who can sell a blockbuster and an indie in the same breath. Kimmel respects them. The interviews will be longer, less bit-heavy. Friday, July 24: The Weekend Wind-Down Guests:
• Ken Jeong — Promoting Community* movie rumors (still happening, allegedly) and his new Netflix comedy special
• Lainey Wilson — Country music's current crossover queen, talking Yellowstone* and her headlining tour
• Musical guest: Lainey Wilson — "Heart Like a Truck" and "Watermelon Moonshine" Friday Kimmel is looser. Jeong brings chaotic energy. Wilson brings authenticity. The musical guest doing double duty as interview subject always makes for a more relaxed segment — they've already warmed up. Saturday, July 25: Best Of Compilation Standard practice. Kimmel doesn't tape fresh Saturdays. The 11:35 PM slot airs a "Best Of" compilation from the week — likely heavy on the Jaafar Jackson and Mulaney segments. --- Why This Week Matters Beyond the Lineup Late-night schedules are usually disposable content. You watch, you forget, you move on. But certain weeks become cultural markers. Jaafar Jackson on Kimmel isn't just a booking. It's the first time the general public — not Jackson die-hards, not film Twitter — will see him speak at length. The Michael* biopic drops October 18, 2026. That's three months away. This interview kicks off the real marketing cycle. And the stakes are unique. Most biopic leads do a standard press tour: Fallon, Kimmel, Colbert, maybe Hot Ones* if they're brave. Jaafar carries a legacy that's simultaneously beloved and complicated. The Michael Jackson Estate's involvement means the film won't touch certain allegations. Critics are already sharpening knives. Fans are already defensive. What Jaafar says Wednesday — how he handles the pressure, whether he shows vulnerability, whether he sounds like a 29-year-old carrying a galaxy of expectation — will set the tone for everything that follows. Fuqua sitting beside him matters too. Directors rarely do late-night alongside actors unless the partnership is the story. Their dynamic will tell you more about the film than any trailer. How to Actually Watch Linear TV: ABC