Wrong Jimmy.
Jimmy Fallon shared that he was a bit taken aback when news broke about Jimmy Kimmel’s show being abruptly pulled off the air. He mentioned returning a flurry of texts from his worried father.
“This morning, my dad woke up to a hundred texts from me saying, ‘I’m sorry I canceled your show.’ I had to explain, ‘It’s not me, it’s Jimmy Kimmel,'” Fallon revealed during his monologue on “The Tonight Show” Thursday night.
Typically upbeat, Fallon addressed Kimmel’s sudden situation and its implications on the airwaves.
“Well, folks, the big story is that Jimmy Kimmel was cut off by ABC after some pressure from the FCC, leaving everyone scratching their heads,” he joked.
Fallon, 51, then segued into a commentary about President Trump’s visit to England, pointing out that the network wouldn’t allow him to censor content.
“During the trip, protesters were able to project their messages onto Windsor Castle, standing next to his good friend, Jeff (Goldblum),” he said, adding, “Look! We can still say what we want!”
The comedian seemed candid, stating, “No one really knows what’s happening,” but he held on to hope.
“I know Jimmy Kimmel; he’s a decent, loving, funny guy. I really hope he returns soon,” Fallon expressed.
Kimmel’s show went off the air following a controversial comment by Trump about Charlie Kirk, who was tragically murdered. Trump compared the incident to “a four-year-old grieving over a goldfish.”
Kimmel, 57, mentioned that the suspected killer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, is, in his words, “Maga” stubborn.
Robinson’s parents are registered Republicans in Utah, yet his political affiliations remain unclear. He didn’t vote in the last two elections but has recently shown support for left-leaning ideas, and bullet casings were discovered at the crime scene.
Stephen Colbert, another late-night host at 61, recently announced that CBS informed him his show would conclude after the current season.
Colbert, on his Thursday episode, declared, “We’re all Jimmy Kimmel.” The cancellation of his show has been attributed to high production costs and lower revenue, but fans speculated that it might be due to criticism he directed at CBS’s “60 Minutes” settlement and Trump’s appearances.
Other late-night hosts rallied in support of Colbert, with Fallon humorously suggesting he could be next on the chopping block, considering NBC’s recent decisions.
Fallon and Kimmel are among the few late-night hosts who have interviewed Trump after entering the political realm.
During Trump’s prior campaign, major networks were reluctant to offer airtime to candidates perceived as unfair by the media.
Kimmel reflected on whether he understood what he was getting into by inviting Trump back in December 2015, believing it would be a positive move.
Trump acknowledged a divisive approach but aimed to unify Republicans.
Fallon had previously hosted Trump in September 2016, just two months before Election Day, and later admitted it was a mistake.
He asserted, “I didn’t do it to ‘normalize’ him or endorse his political beliefs,” a sentiment he remains firm on.
Fallon’s contract with NBC is set to extend until 2028.
