Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night television after a brief suspension drew 6.26 million total viewers, according to preliminary Nielsen ratings, making it the show’s highest-performing regularly scheduled episode in over a decade.
The robust ratings are remarkable partly because a typical episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” attracts roughly 1.6 million viewers.
Disney, which owns ABC, highlighted that the latest episode did not air in 23% of American households. That’s because Nexstar and Sinclair, two major owners of ABC broadcast affiliates, continue to refuse to run the show following Kimmel’s remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel had been at the center of a political firestorm for nearly a week after he commented on the political motivations of the man suspected of killing Kirk at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
“The MAGA gang [is] 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 said on his Sept. 15 show.
Investigators had not yet released details about the suspect’s possible motive at the time.
Authorities have charged Tyler Robinson, 22, with murder. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has said the suspect grew up in a conservative household in Utah but later became influenced by what he characterized as “leftist ideology.”
Two days after Kimmel’s remarks about MAGA, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr accused him of being part of a “concerted effort to lie to the American people” and threatened to “take action” against Disney at the regulatory level.
Disney’s decision to temporarily pull the show drew backlash from Hollywood talent and lawmakers in both parties, stoking a national debate over free speech.
In the opening minutes of Tuesday’s episode, Kimmel, 57, passionately defended free speech and mocked President Donald Trump.
“This show is not important,” Kimmel said. “What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
He also attempted to smooth tensions.
“You understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said, his voice breaking. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”
In less than 24 hours, Kimmel’s opening monologue has netted more than 26 million views across YouTube and other social media platforms, according to Disney.
The initial data does not include streaming viewership, Disney said.
Nexstar said Wednesday it was “continuing to evaluate the status of” Kimmel’s show.
“We are engaged in productive discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company, with a focus on ensuring the program reflects and respects the diverse interests of the communities we serve,” Nexstar said in a statement.
Sinclair struck a similar chord: “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”
