Jimmy Kimmel Makes a Triumphant Return
Jimmy Kimmel has made his comeback and appears to be quite popular. On Tuesday night, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” attracted a staggering 6.3 million viewers, marking the highest viewership for a regularly scheduled episode in the show’s 22-year history.
This surge in viewers is notably impressive, as it represents a massive 343% increase from the previous season’s average of 1.4 million viewers, according to initial data from Nielsen.
However, it’s worth mentioning that Kimmel’s total viewership accounts for only 23% of U.S. households, particularly affecting local TV stations and ABC affiliates operated by Nexstar and Sinclair, two significant players in the broadcasting industry.
Kimmel’s show was pulled by ABC for a temporary pause after inciting a conservative backlash stemming from comments he made regarding Charlie Kirk. Kirk, a conservative activist, was tragically shot and killed on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10th at the age of 31.
Tyler Robinson, who has since been arrested, has been charged with the murder of Kirk.
During his monologue on September 15th, Kimmel criticized the “Magagang,” claiming they were misrepresenting the young individual who killed Kirk and asserting that they gained “political points” from the incident.
Reportedly, Kimmel’s return was negotiated following pressure from Nexstar, Sinclair, and FCC chairman Brendan Kerr after Disney had placed him on “indefinite” suspension.
Disney explained their decision to halt production by stating it was to avoid inflaming the already tense situation. They acknowledged that Kimmel’s comments were poorly timed and deemed insensitive, which led to discussions that eventually saw the show reinstated.
During his return, Kimmel attempted to clarify his prior statements without offering an apology. He acknowledged the gravity of the situation surrounding Kirk’s death.
“I never intended to downplay the murder of a young man,” Kimmel stated in his opening remarks. He seems to realize that some might have felt offended or upset by his previous comments.
The host moved away from his earlier assertion linking Kirk’s accused murderer to the “Magagang,” stating, “None of the individuals involved in this tragedy represent them. This is a disturbed individual who believes violence is the answer, which it is not.”
Despite Kimmel’s return, Nexstar announced that they would continue to preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its ABC affiliates as discussions with Disney are ongoing. They intend to ensure that the program reflects the diverse interests of the communities they serve.
