Jim Geraghty of National Review Online assesses the controversy surrounding a late-night network television host’s recent suspension.
In the end, Jimmy Kimmel got a few days in the time-out chair. …
… If ABC had wanted to cancel Kimmel’s show outright, they could have and would have done so. The fact that the network announced the recording of the show was “suspended indefinitely” was a sign that they wanted the controversy surrounding Kimmel to burn itself out before letting him loose on the airwaves again. No one should be particularly surprised that ABC brought him back after some “thoughtful conversations.” …
… Kimmel’s $16 million-per-year contract expires in May 2026. In eight months, Kimmel stops being ABC’s problem.
President Trump prematurely spiked the football when he jumped onto Truth Social and gloated, “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.”
So, this means the First Amendment is intact, America is not a dictatorship, and Trump is not ruling over America’s television screens with an iron fist, right?
Kimmel’s comeback will not be complete; Sinclair Broadcast Group announced they will not be airing 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.”
Sinclair is the largest owner of ABC affiliate stations, with 38 across the country, including WJLA, the ABC affiliate that serves the Washington, D.C., metro area. …
… When Kimmel was removed from the air, Sinclair sounded like they were not interested in broadcasting his show again unless Kimmel not only apologized, but made “a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA.”
