Everyone Is Very Excited to Watch Jimmy Kimmel for Exactly One Night
Stephen Colbert will now be the only martyr in late night, following Jimmy Kimmel’s return to television tonight. Kimmel’s removal, which occurred after Cosa Nostra-style threats were issued from Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, caused a rightful outcry against government censorship, Trump’s authoritarian overreach and fears about the First Amendment.
The swell of support for Kimmel stretched from the celebrity world to the political sphere, and even included a legion of everyday people canceling their Disney subscriptions, cruises and park visits. More than 400 celebrities signed an American Civil Liberties Union letter, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tom Hanks and Regina King, condemning ABC and Disney’s rollover for Trump. And Mark Ruffalo, Hulk in the Disney-owned Marvel franchise, promised that Disney’s stock would continue to plummet if the company permanently canceled Kimmel.
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Truly, nothing has united American liberals like this since President Barack Obama’s first presidential run in 2008. And while Disney and ABC executives have remained mum on their motivations, it was announced on Monday afternoon that Kimmel would return to TV on Tuesday night.
While broadcast conglomerates Nexstar and Sinclair still plan to preempt Kimmel, the late-night host will undoubtedly experience a huge surge in ratings in his victory over Trump’s government censorship. That will be important, as Kimmel has consistently remained in the middle of the pack for viewership in the 11:35 p.m. time slot. Colbert has been in the lead most of the year, with Jimmy Fallon perpetually in third place.
This week, we’re almost guaranteed to see Kimmel in the lead, though there’s a genuine question of how long this ordeal will provide real buoyancy. The suspense leading up to Kimmel’s thoughts on his temporary cancellation has been reinforced by his lack of public comment on the matter.
Many people are hoping for a monologue for the ages, a complete skewering of Trump, and a doubling down on Kimmel’s criticisms and political commentary. But some are worried that Kimmel may not use this opportunity to throw elbows; after all, the guests for Tuesday’s triumphant return are Sarah McLachlan and Glenn Powell, who both have Disney projects to promote.
Whether Kimmel can leverage his fervent supporters into a ratings-boosting loyal audience remains to be seen. It will likely all depend on if he delivers on what the masses are expecting.
