Jimmy Kimmel Extends Thanks to Donald Trump for Surge in Viewership Following Suspension
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Jimmy Kimmel, the renowned host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” expressed his gratitude towards President Donald Trump after experiencing a significant spike in viewership. The late-night host, aged 57, responded to the recent surge in his show’s ratings during his monologue on Thursday, September 25th. He offered a message of appreciation to Trump after previously celebrating the temporary suspension of his show by Disney’s ABC just a week prior.
After being pulled off the air by ABC on September 17th due to Kimmel’s comments regarding the death of Charlie Kirk, the show was reinstated on September 23rd by the Walt Disney Company. The return episode of Kimmel’s show garnered an impressive 6.26 million viewers through traditional television according to preliminary Nielsen ratings. This figure was three times higher than the show’s average viewership, and the monologue posted on the official YouTube page attracted 15.9 million views in less than 24 hours, reaching a total of 21.7 million views by Friday, September 26th.
Kimmel acknowledged Trump, age 79, for his part in the increased viewership, stating, “We couldn’t have done it without you, Mr. President. Thank you very much,” in a jesting tone. Following this acknowledgment, Kimmel humorously remarked that other shows began taking jabs at the president after his viewership boost. He even featured a spoof of Antique Roadshow where an appraiser subtly criticised Trump while evaluating a piece of furniture.
In addition to the rise in viewership, Kimmel announced that his show would be moving to Brooklyn for a week, joking that they were relocating to avoid interference from the FCC. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will be broadcasted from the Brooklyn Academy of Music from September 29th to October 3rd, with appearances from guests such as Emily Blunt, Spike Lee, Ryan Reynolds, Tom Hanks, and more.
The controversy surrounding Kimmel’s suspension arose on September 15th when he addressed the tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk during his monologue. Kimmel criticised the MAGA group’s attempts to distance themselves from the perpetrator and exploit the situation for political gain. Subsequently, Kimmel faced backlash, with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr expressing disapproval of his comments, leading to ABC temporarily pulling his show off the air.
Despite the reinstatement of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” by ABC, the show remains preempted by Sinclair and Nexstar in certain local markets. This follows Nexstar’s announcement of plans to acquire Tegna, a rival broadcast company, for over $6 billion. This acquisition, pending final approval from the FCC, controlled by Trump, would consolidate Nexstar’s presence in 80% of American households with televisions.
President Trump has been openly critical of Kimmel, initially welcoming the decision to suspend him and subsequently threatening ABC upon his return. In a social media post, Trump expressed disbelief at Kimmel being reinstated and belittled his ratings. Kimmel, in response, joked during his monologue about having ratings for that night.
In conclusion, the unexpected turn of events following Kimmel’s suspension and subsequent return has sparked a heated debate on freedom of speech and censorship in the entertainment industry. The clash between Kimmel and Trump reflects the divisive political climate in the United States and underlines the power dynamics at play within the media landscape. The viewership surge experienced by “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” serves as a testament to the unpredictability and influence of political dynamics on popular culture.