When Does Jimmy Kimmel Return to ABC?
Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension is over.
On Monday, ABC announced that new episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live! would begin airing on Tuesday, September 23. The news came less than a week after the network’s decision to indefinitely suspend the late-night host’s show in the wake of comments he made related to the murder of conservative activist and podcaster Charlie Kirk.
“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,” the Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC, said in a statement (via The New York Times).
“It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive,” the statement continued. “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.”
When does ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ air?
Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC. You can also watch the show on ABC.com and stream it on Hulu. Tuesday’s show will tape in Los Angeles with a live audience. There’s no word yet on which guests will appear on the program.
While Kimmel is returning to ABC, not all of the network’s affiliates will air the new episode on Tuesday. Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns 39 ABC stations around the country and led the call to pull Kimmel off the air, has said it will continue to preempt the show.
“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,” the company told Deadline.
After Kimmel’s suspension, Sinclair said that it wouldn’t air his show “until formal discussions are held with ABC regarding the network’s commitment to professionalism and accountability.” The company also demanded that Kimmel “issue a direct apology to the Kirk family,” in addition to making a “meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA.”
Nexstar, which owns 32 ABC affiliates, also objected to Kimmel’s comments about the response to Kirk’s murder. It has not announced whether it will air future episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel will say what he ‘wants to say,’ insider says
While some praised Disney’s decision to pull Kimmel off the air, the move also drew widespread criticism from other late-night hosts, multiple Hollywood unions, numerous celebrities, and former president Barack Obama. There were also reports of many people canceling Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions in protest of the action, as well as Disney vacations.
Details of the agreement Kimmel reached with Disney to bring his show back to TV haven’t been disclosed. But an insider told Deadline that the comedian will not be muzzled.
“Jimmy will say what Jimmy wants to say,” the source said.
For more news and exclusive interviews, follow Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram.
