It looks like Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night return has hit a brick wall harder than a progressive agenda at a conservative town hall.
In a nutshell, two of ABC’s biggest affiliate owners, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, have pulled the plug on airing "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for its scheduled return, citing Kimmel’s controversial comments about Charlie Kirk, New York Post reported.
This mess started last week when Kimmel was suspended by ABC for remarks tying an alleged incident involving Charlie Kirk to what he called the “MAGA gang.”
Disney, ABC’s parent company, had planned to bring Kimmel back to the airwaves, hoping to sweep the dust under the rug and move on.
But Nexstar, one of the largest owners of ABC affiliates, wasn’t buying the quick fix, announcing that they’d keep Kimmel’s show off their stations due to his false claim about Kirk’s fate at the hands of a supposed supporter of conservative causes.
Sinclair, not to be outdone, had already made their stance clear a day earlier, declaring they’d preempt the show and swap it out for news programming instead.
“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” the group stated on social media, sounding more resolute than a taxpayer facing a new government mandate.
Let’s unpack that: Sinclair’s move isn’t just a slap on the wrist; it’s a full pivot to content they deem more suitable for their viewers, which speaks volumes about their trust in Kimmel’s current brand of humor.
Nexstar echoed a similar sentiment, explaining their decision was rooted in what they saw as Kimmel’s ill-judged timing and insensitivity during a tense national moment.
“We made a decision last week to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ following what ABC referred to as Mr. Kimmel’s ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments at a critical time in our national discourse,” Nexstar stated firmly.
“We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve,” they added, signaling they’re not just playing hardball but setting a standard for discourse that’s rarer than common sense in some Hollywood circles.
Here’s the kicker: between Sinclair and Nexstar, their affiliates make up roughly a quarter of ABC’s national household reach, meaning Kimmel’s absence isn’t just a symbolic snub—it’s a significant dent in viewership.
Meanwhile, Disney’s decision to reinstate Kimmel hasn’t gone unnoticed, with protests emerging over the initial suspension of his show.
It’s a classic catch-22 for the entertainment giant: bring Kimmel back and risk alienating affiliates and conservative viewers, or keep him off and face backlash from fans who cry censorship faster than you can say “cancel culture.” While this writer leans toward accountability over unchecked commentary, one can’t help but sympathize with the network’s tightrope walk in an era where every word is a potential landmine.
