Jimmy Kimmel’s long-running late-night talk show made a highly anticipated return to ABC on Tuesday, September 23, marking the first episode since Disney lifted the program’s “indefinite hiatus.” The episode drew widespread attention, as viewers were eager to see how Kimmel, 57, would address recent controversies surrounding his commentary on the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Preliminary Nielsen ratings show that the episode averaged 6.26 million viewers on traditional television — more than three times Kimmel’s typical audience. These figures do not account for on-demand viewing or online streams, and the numbers are particularly notable given that several local ABC affiliates, including Nexstar Media and Sinclair, opted to preempt the broadcast on their stations.
The show’s digital footprint was equally impressive. Video clips of Kimmel’s monologue posted to the program’s official YouTube channel garnered 15.9 million views in under 24 hours. Across YouTube and other social media platforms, the monologue accumulated more than 26 million views, underscoring the host’s enduring influence in late-night television.
The episode followed a week-long suspension that began after Kimmel’s September 15 monologue, in which he commented on the shooting death of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, was shot through the neck during a public speaking event, a tragedy that shocked his large following.
During the controversial monologue, Kimmel criticized political figures, including Trump, over their responses to Kirk’s death. He remarked, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.” He further highlighted Trump’s actions, or perceived inactions, during the period of mourning, using satire to comment on the president’s attention to unrelated projects: “Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief, construction. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish, okay?”
Prior to his return, Kimmel had also issued a social media statement offering condolences to the Kirk family and victims of gun violence nationwide: “Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”
The temporary suspension of the show was influenced by pressure from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, who cited Kimmel’s remarks as potentially actionable under federal broadcast regulations. Nexstar and Sinclair, two of the nation’s largest ABC affiliate groups, chose to preempt the broadcast, further amplifying the controversy. Carr publicly praised the networks for “doing the right thing” in their decision-making, while former President Trump celebrated Kimmel’s removal, claiming the host was “fired for lack of talent.”
The suspension also drew criticism from free speech advocates. An open letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and signed by over 400 figures in the entertainment industry, including Tom Hanks and Jennifer Aniston, defended Kimmel’s constitutional right to free expression.
Despite the controversies, Kimmel’s return demonstrated the enduring appeal of his program and the high stakes surrounding late-night commentary on politically sensitive issues. Jimmy Kimmel Live! continues to air weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC, with audiences now closely watching both the content of his monologues and the broader debates surrounding free speech, broadcast oversight, and the intersection of politics and entertainment.