“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” returns tonight after around a week off the air following comments made by its host regarding the alleged shooter of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. However, it won’t be broadcast everywhere.
In a statement published by ABC News, the network that airs Kimmel, its parent company Disney announced the show would return this week. At the same time, at least two major affiliate companies – Nexstar and Sinclair – said they would continue to preempt the show.
“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive,” said Disney. “We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.
Kimmel intimated that Tyler Robinson, Kirk’s alleged killer was right-wing, while some reports have indicated that alleged killer had at least some left-wing beliefs. Axios reported that broadcast groups began pulling Kimmel’s show, which has been running for more than 20 years, “amid vocal criticism of the late night host from Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr.”
In the wake of his show’s suspension, more than 400 artists signed a letter slamming the decision.
“Jimmy Kimmel was taken off the air after our government threatened a private company with retaliation for Kimmel’s remarks. This is a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation,” said the letter, published by the American Civil Liberties Union.
Per the ABC Owned Television Stations website, Disney owns eight ABC stations: WABC-TV New York, N.Y.; KABC-TV Los Angeles, Calif.; WLS-TV Chicago, Ill.; WPVI-TV Philadelphia, Pa.; KTRK-TV Houston, Texas; KGO-TV San Francisco, Calif.; WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; and KFSN-TV Fresno, Calif.
That’s just a small number of the ABC stations throughout the country.
Nexstar said Tuesday that it will “continue to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’” on its ABC affiliate stations. It said it stands by the decision made to preempt the show last week “pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”
Sinclair, another major broadcasting company, said that “beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,” in a Monday X post.
According to reports from Newsweek, Deadline, and other outlets Nexstar and Sinclair each have more than 30 ABC affiliated stations.
How to watch
So, what does this mean for viewers? Will they be able to see Kimmel tonight at 11:35 p.m. ET/10:30 p.m. CT?
To check, they can search the call letters of their local ABC station. Both Nexstar and Sinclair offer maps of their stations.
There’s also the streaming option. Nexstar noted that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will still “be available nationwide on multiple Disney-owned streaming products,” such as Hulu+ Live TV. Segments are also uploaded to ABC.com and YouTube.
CNN reported that “a source familiar with the comedian’s plans,” said Kimmel is expected to address the controversy over his Kirk comments during his opening monologue. It added that the guest is unknown.