NEW YORK (AP) — Late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel is making his comeback to television this Tuesday, following his suspension last week that ignited discussions around freedom of speech and President Trump’s impact on media scrutiny. It sounds like a plot twist from one of his skits!
However, his return won’t be seen by all. Two major ABC affiliate groups that criticized Kimmel have decided not to air the show again. Nexstar Media Group announced their plans to keep the show off-air until they get credible guarantees for a climate of respectful dialogue. Likewise, Sinclair Broadcast Group echoed this sentiment, which controls about 25% of ABC affiliates.
ABC decided to lift Kimmel’s suspension after last Wednesday’s outcry over his remarks related to the unfortunate death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. They stated that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would resume airing today after having what they described as “thoughtful conversations” with Kimmel himself.
Upon hearing the news, fellow comedian Stephen Colbert took a cheeky jab on his CBS show, claiming, “Our long national late-night nightmare is over!” Kimmel, who’s kept a low profile despite the turmoil, shared a nostalgic post on Instagram featuring him and famed producer and free speech champion Norman Lear, commenting, “Missing this guy today.”
Accusations from the FCC Chairman
Kimmel’s suspension fell amid a firestorm of remarks from the FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump, who alleged that Kimmel was trying to mislead the public in relation to accusations revolving around Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old charged with killing Kirk. As investigators dig further, Robinson’s motivations remain up for debate. His mother claims that he had shifted to more left-leaning views after growing up in a conservative household.
“We can either sort this out smoothly or face tougher consequences,” Carr warned prior to Kimmel’s suspension. This sparked intense backlash, with Republican Senator Ted Cruz likening Carr’s tactics to those of a “mafia boss.” A legion of celebrities, including Tom Hanks, Barbra Streisand, and Jennifer Aniston, denounced ABC’s decision, describing it as a dark moment for freedom of speech.
The fallout also reached Disney, ABC’s parent company, as many disgruntled fans canceled their subscriptions to Disney’s platforms.
Trump himself was initially jubilant with Kimmel’s suspension reactively declaring the show canceled, which he incorrectly claimed.
Throughout his presidency, Trump has been known to exert pressure on various media outlets, even filing lawsuits against multiple news sites for favorable coverage. His social influence has impacted NPR and PBS as well when he encouraged Congress to withdraw federal funding.
How Kimmel will tackle the previous week’s controversy on his return show remains uncertain, but anticipation is high, and many will tune in to see.
Kimmel’s Guest Lineup: A Light at the End of the Tunnel
For his comeback, he’ll have at least one familiar face on stage. The talented Sarah McLachlan, who previously withdrew from a planned performance due to Kimmel’s suspension, is slated to perform on the show. Her return was confirmed by a spokesperson, emphasizing she had been booked before Kimmel’s show was taken off the air.
Another guest joining Kimmel will be actor Glen Powell, who was also a planned feature on the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” line-up even prior to the recent fuss, yet he’ll be promoting a Hulu project alongside Kimmel. Saturday’s guest, former NFL star Peyton Manning, will also feature in this pointed push for a Hulu project.
In negotiations that reportedly spanned several days, Disney and ABC management settled on Kimmel’s return. While they classified the comments that led to the suspension as “ill-timed and insensitive,” they refrained from confirming them as misleading.
Andrew Kolvet, representing the group Turning Point USA led by Kirk’s widow, took to social media lamenting, “It’s unsurprising that they are allowing Kimmel back. That’s a misstep they need to take accountability for.”
These events come at a pivotal time when late-night shows are evolving, and a Wednesday viewership aside, many prefer catching snippets online post-pbroadcasting. Then came Colbert’s revelation of his recent Emmy Award for outstanding talk series as he cheekily declared himself, “the lone martyr of late-night!”
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Reported by Associated Press’ journalists Maria Sherman, Mark Kennedy, James Pollard, and Alicia Rancilio!
