The Jimmy Kimmel Show is returning to the air this Tuesday - a week after it was removed from the schedule of the American television channel ABC, owned by the Walt Disney Company. This was announced by ABC itself.
Last Wednesday, the management of Walt Disney decided to temporarily suspend the popular host because of his monologue in the last episode of the show in connection with the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was an important supporter of President Donald Trump.
"Over the weekend, we reached new levels of decline, as the MAGA gang tried desperately to present this young man who killed Charlie Kirk as something different from them and did everything they could to derive political benefits from it,", part of the monologue read.
Kimmel's words sparked strong dissatisfaction among conservatives. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr attacked Jimmy Kimmel and suggested the regulator should take action against ABC over the host's comments. Just hours later, Disney announced that the Jimmy Kimmel Show was being temporarily suspended.
A wave of criticism over the show's suspension
The company's sudden decision has sparked a wave of criticism. Hollywood unions, representing more than 400,000 workers, have publicly condemned Walt Disney. The Writers Guild of America has called for "corporate cowardice" and has staged a protest outside Disney's headquarters in California. Kimmel fans, members of the Democratic Party and a number of celebrities have criticized the decision to take down the show. Some Republicans have also been critical.
Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, compared Brandon Carr's comments to those of a mob boss, saying his talk of potential retaliation against media companies was "dangerous as hell". "I like Brandon Carr, but we shouldn't be in this business," Cruz said on his podcast last week.
The Walt Disney Company has also come under pressure from its customers, some of whom have canceled Disney+ subscriptions and Disney World vacations in protest. On social media, under ads for Disney movies or the company's streaming offerings, numerous comments in support of the popular host and his show could be seen.
David Letterman, one of the most popular TV personalities in the US, commented on the suspension of Kimmel's show as follows: "You can't fire people just because you're afraid of an authoritarian and criminal government (...) In an authoritarian regime, something like this can happen to anyone, including you."
The famous radio host Howard Stern also reacted critically: "When the government says: I don't like what you're saying, I'll find a way to silence you - that's the wrong way for our country".
What made Disney bring Kimmel's show back on the air?
Donald Trump sees things in a completely different way. He has not yet commented on the news of Jimmy Kimmel's return, but it has long been known that the popular host is a thorn in his side. "They should have brought him back a long time ago," Trump said last week after the decision to temporarily suspend the show was announced. According to the president, Kimmel had no talent.
But what made Disney bring Jimmy Kimmel back on the air now? Why does ABC want to be its producer again? German broadcaster ARD quoted Brian Steinberg from the Hollywood publication Variety as saying to CBS: "Kimmel has been with Disney for decades, he's a kind of ambassador for the company. He's hosted the Oscars many times. I think they really value him and wanted to find a way to get him back on the air and put this controversial moment behind them."
In an extensive article on the subject, the "New York Times" It says that talks between Disney and Jimmy Kimmel to bring his show back to the air officially began on Thursday. This information comes from two sources familiar with the matter, who spoke to "The New York Times" on condition of anonymity.
Representatives of Disney management and the CEO of ABC, which directly oversees the show, met with Jimmy Kimmel at his lawyer's office in Los Angeles. Kimmel's manager also participated in the meeting. However, it ended without the popular host's consent to changes to the monologue he had planned to deliver on Wednesday and in which he wanted to explain his earlier comments that caused discontent among conservatives.
The talks with Kimmel continued throughout the weekend and on Monday morning an agreement was reached on the return of the show and what Jimmy Kimmel would say when he returns.
"Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend the show to avoid further inflaming the tense situation at an emotional time for our country," Walt Disney said in a statement. "We spent the last few days in deep conversations with Jimmy, and as a result, we have reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday."
The return of Jimmy Kimmel to the air tonight will be one of the most anticipated episodes of his show in years. In recent days, many of his fellow late-night hosts - including Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Seth Meyer, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart - have used their shows and platforms to support Jimmy Kimmel and condemn the temporary suspension of his show.
Viewers are eagerly awaiting to see how the host will use the airtime and how he will comment on his absence. Will his jokes become more ordinary and less critical of Trump and his administration? That would not fit his style, nor the expectations of his fans.