Jimmy Kimmel's return to 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on Tuesday night defied expectations, drawing a staggering 6.26 million viewers despite significant preemptions across 23% of U.S. television households. This represents a monumental surge compared to his average viewership of 1.42 million during the 2024-2025 season, highlighting the considerable public interest surrounding his return following a controversial suspension.
The episode marked Kimmel's first public address since his temporary removal from the airwaves. His monologue, a candid reflection on the incident, lasted over 28 minutes and generated over 26 million views across YouTube and other social media platforms. The show also achieved its highest rating among adults aged 18 to 49 in over a decade, underscoring the program's enduring appeal to a younger demographic.
The controversy stemmed from Kimmel's previous monologue criticizing the reaction of certain members of President Trump's MAGA movement to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. This led to significant preemptions by local station owners Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair, which together control roughly 70 ABC affiliate stations, impacting nearly a quarter of the country's viewers.
Despite the preemptions, fueled by concerns raised by Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr about potential license repercussions, Kimmel's return proved exceptionally successful. He even addressed the controversy directly, joking, "[Trump] tried his best to cancel me. Instead, he forced millions of people to watch the show. Backfired bigly." This humorous yet pointed response likely further captivated audiences and contributed to the unusually high viewership.
As of Wednesday, Nexstar stated they are "continuing to evaluate" the show's future, indicating ongoing discussions with Disney executives. Sinclair, in a statement echoing previous comments, confirmed the preemption and ongoing talks with ABC.
The remarkable success of Kimmel's return underscores the power of controversy in driving viewership and the enduring resilience of late-night television in the face of political and media pressures.
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Originally published at: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/24/jimmy-kimmel-return-ratings-abc-disney.html
