Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Jimmy Kimmel's Return Draws 6.2 Million Viewers, Ratings Show
Jimmy Kimmel’s Return Draws 6.2 Million Viewers, Ratings Show
The first episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” since it was suspended last week by Disney attracted nearly four times its average viewership.
Jimmy Kimmel defended free speech when he resumed his show on Tuesday, calling government pressure on his late-night talk program “anti-American.” Randy Holmes/Disney, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
By John Koblin
Sept. 24, 2025, 6:00 p.m. ET
Jimmy Kimmel’s broadcast return scored big in the ratings. … Tuesday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” averaged 6.2 million viewers, according to preliminary figures from Nielsen. That is nearly four times bigger than his usual audience, even though more than 20 percent of ABC affiliates boycotted the show. … The preliminary Nielsen figures are expected to grow in the coming days as more data comes in. It does not include streaming viewership.
The show was Mr. Kimmel’s first since executives at ABC and Disney — the network’s parent company — decided to pull his show on Sept. 17. They made the move after growing criticism, including by a top federal regulator, over comments he made during his show about the man accused of fatally shooting the conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The show’s suspension set off a national debate about free speech.
Mr. Kimmel dedicated much of his Tuesday night monologue to that very topic. “This show is not important,” he said. “What’s important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
{snip}
On Tuesday’s show, Mr. Kimmel played a clip of Mr. Trump aboard Air Force One gloating about Mr. Kimmel being taken off the air. “He had no ratings,” the president said. … “Well,” Mr. Kimmel said after the clip, “I do tonight.”
John Koblin covers the television industry for The Times.
The first episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” since it was suspended last week by Disney attracted nearly four times its average viewership.
Jimmy Kimmel defended free speech when he resumed his show on Tuesday, calling government pressure on his late-night talk program “anti-American.” Randy Holmes/Disney, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
By John Koblin
Sept. 24, 2025, 6:00 p.m. ET
Jimmy Kimmel’s broadcast return scored big in the ratings. … Tuesday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” averaged 6.2 million viewers, according to preliminary figures from Nielsen. That is nearly four times bigger than his usual audience, even though more than 20 percent of ABC affiliates boycotted the show. … The preliminary Nielsen figures are expected to grow in the coming days as more data comes in. It does not include streaming viewership.
The show was Mr. Kimmel’s first since executives at ABC and Disney — the network’s parent company — decided to pull his show on Sept. 17. They made the move after growing criticism, including by a top federal regulator, over comments he made during his show about the man accused of fatally shooting the conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The show’s suspension set off a national debate about free speech.
Mr. Kimmel dedicated much of his Tuesday night monologue to that very topic. “This show is not important,” he said. “What’s important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
{snip}
On Tuesday’s show, Mr. Kimmel played a clip of Mr. Trump aboard Air Force One gloating about Mr. Kimmel being taken off the air. “He had no ratings,” the president said. … “Well,” Mr. Kimmel said after the clip, “I do tonight.”
John Koblin covers the television industry for The Times.