LOS ANGELES —  Jimmy Kimmel will join NBC's late-night hosts in returning with new shows Jan. 2 in the midst of the Hollywood writers strike, ABC said Tuesday.

Kimmel, along with Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and other hosts, had honored the strike that began Nov. 5. He said it was a difficult decision to resume work without writers, but he wants to save the jobs of other staffers on the show.

He also voiced support for colleagues and friends in the Writers Guild of America and added that he hopes the contract dispute with producers ends fairly and soon.