Jimmy Kimmel’s Show in Limbo; Crew Paid Next Week Amid Crisis
UPDATE: The future of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” hangs in the balance as the late-night show’s crew will be paid through next week while negotiations with Disney continue. This urgent situation follows the show being “pre-empted indefinitely” on Wednesday after controversy erupted over Kimmel’s comments related to Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer.
The decision comes in the wake of pressure from Brendan Carr, a Trump administration official, who publicly urged ABC to take action against Kimmel. Sources close to the show confirmed that approximately 200 to 250 staff members in Hollywood will receive their paychecks next week, but uncertainty looms over the program’s future.
Kimmel has a reputation for being mindful of his team’s well-being. He previously supported his crew during the WGA strike that halted Hollywood productions in 2023 and turned his show’s backlot into a donation center during the wildfires in Los Angeles earlier this year.
This week, Kimmel met with top ABC executives at his attorney’s office to discuss a potential path forward amid ongoing discussions. However, reports indicate that no agreement has been reached, creating a tense atmosphere for staff and viewers alike.
Disney sources express hope for a resolution, emphasizing the need to address the “real, serious threat” facing ABC’s local broadcast licenses. Following Carr’s comments on a conservative podcast, a number of local affiliates, including those owned by Nexstar and Sinclair, announced they would not air Kimmel’s show, escalating the situation.
In a bid to calm tensions, Disney executives reached out to Kimmel on Wednesday, suggesting he “take down the temperature.” However, Kimmel stood firm, refusing to alter his prepared monologue that was critical of Fox News and the MAGA base.
As a result, Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden made the decision to indefinitely pre-empt the show, hoping to negotiate a workable solution with Kimmel. A source close to the situation described the underlying sentiment: “Everyone deeply values him and wants him to come back. But he has to take down the temperature.”
As this story develops, viewers and fans are left anxiously awaiting news on whether “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will return to air. The impact of these events extends beyond the show, reflecting the broader struggles within the entertainment industry amid political pressures and the ongoing fallout from recent controversies.
