Late-Night Hosts Celebrate Jimmy Kimmel’s Return to TV
Jimmy Kimmel is back on air following a brief suspension, much to the delight of his fellow late-night hosts. ABC confirmed on September 22, 2023, that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would resume broadcasting on September 23, just days after Kimmel faced backlash for his remarks about President Donald Trump and conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk.
The announcement prompted enthusiastic reactions from notable late-night comedians. On The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert expressed his happiness over Kimmel’s return. “We do, like, 160 of these a year or something, and when I have the chance, it’s always nice to start the show with some good news,” he said during his monologue.
Colbert elaborated on the significance of the announcement, stating, “Just a few hours before we tape this broadcast, we got word that our long national late nightmare is over, because Disney announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to air on ABC tomorrow.” The audience responded with cheers as Colbert praised Kimmel and his team. “Wonderful news for my dear friend Jimmy and his amazing staff that he can continue his show,” he added.
On NBC, Seth Meyers also celebrated Kimmel’s reinstatement during his show. He pointed out the broader implications of Kimmel’s situation, noting, “There has been a massive national backlash to Trump’s crackdown on free speech, even among conservatives.” Meyers suggested that public sentiment would likely be overwhelmingly against any presidential attempts to dictate what television hosts can say.
Meanwhile, on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, Jon Stewart referenced the social media campaigns launched by Kimmel’s supporters, who threatened to cancel their subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu in protest of Kimmel’s suspension. “I want to say this seriously, that campaign that you all launched, pretending that you were going to cancel Hulu while secretly racing through four seasons of Only Murders in the Building, that really worked,” Stewart joked. He highlighted the complexities of the entertainment giant’s influence on daily life, quipping, “It’s one thing to swear off cruises, but The Avengers? Nah.”
Kimmel’s return marks a significant moment in the late-night landscape as discussions about freedom of speech and the role of entertainers in political discourse continue to evolve. The reactions from his peers underscore a shared commitment to supporting one another in the face of controversy, reflecting a camaraderie that often defines the late-night television community.
