Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night TV shattered records, quieting the buzz of low ratings.
His comeback monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! was immediately his most-watched YouTube clip, hitting 15 million views in 16 hours.
The virtual 30-minute monologue was not only deemed humorous but also raw with emotion and incisive commentary. Kimmel spoke about his suspension by Disney, explained comments on the senseless murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and vehemently defended free speech.
Based on early Nielsen ratings, the show attracted 6.26 million broadcast viewers, a remarkable number considering dozens of ABC affiliates, including Nexstar and Sinclair-owned stations, boycotted the show. Jimmy Kimmel Live! usually attracts around 1.6 million viewers, so this boom is a historic turnaround.
Kimmel’s earlier biggest YouTube monologue was in 2017 when he announced his newborn son Billy had a heart condition and was undergoing surgery, capturing worldwide attention. Other flashpoint emotional or cultural moments also received extremely high traction: his reaction to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting (10 million views), his reaction to Will Smith’s slapping of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars (13 million views), and his comments after Trump got re-elected (9 million views). This week’s clip now surpasses them all.
The row erupted when Disney put Kimmel’s show on ice due to pressure from Trump-appointed Federal Communications Commission (FCC) head, objecting to his remarks on Kirk’s murder. The action elicited a nationwide backlash. The critics charged that Disney had knuckled under political pressure and compromised free speech. In solidarity with Kimmel, Hollywood stars, unions, consumer groups, free speech organizations, and even Republican politicians such as Ted Cruz pitched in. Public pressure and boycotts compelled Disney to bring him back, which resulted in Monday’s about-face.
On his comeback, Kimmel did not apologize directly but rather explained his intent. He made it clear that he never intended to trivialize Kirk’s murder or to lay blame unjustly. “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he stated. “That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make. I understand why some people were upset.”
He also complimented Erika Kirk, Charlie’s wife, on exhibiting extraordinary grace by forgiving her husband’s suspected killer publicly in a memorial service. Kimmel took the opportunity to note kindness amidst tragedy and juxtapose it with the political fallout from his own suspension.
Throughout the segment, Kimmel presented his ordeal as a test of American values. “This show is not important,” he mused. “What is important is that we get to live in a country where we can have a show like this. A government threat to silence a comedian the president doesn’t like is anti-American.”
Donald Trump, who has long been a critic of Kimmel, attacked him on Truth Social just before the show aired. Trump ridiculed ABC for bringing the host back, saying, “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back… his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there.” He threatened possible legal battles as well, mentioning his previous $16 million settlement with ABC News after a defamation case.
In spite of Trump’s assault, the resurgence validated Kimmel’s relevance in popular culture. He reiterated lessons he learned from comedy legends such as Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, and Howard Stern, cautioning against politicians trying to control who receives a platform.
Despite this, there are challenges ahead. Nexstar, with 28 ABC affiliates, and Sinclair, with 38 affiliates, released a statement that they are “assessing” the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on their networks. The companies indicated that the show will be preempted through the time talks with Disney are ongoing, revealing tensions between corporate broadcasting and creative liberty.
For the time being, however, Kimmel is once again in the limelight tighter than ever. His comeback not only broke digital and broadcast records but also revived a national conversation regarding free speech, political power, and the place of humor in American democracy.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be on as per normal on Wednesday, except with Nexstar and Sinclair-owned affiliates. Whether those affiliates back down or hold firm is an open question, but the ratings demonstrate one thing: Kimmel’s voice sounds louder than ever.
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