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Kimmel’s Return Monologue

James Joyner
22

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As most readers are likely aware, Jimmy Kimmel Live returned* last night after a bizarre suspension over some seemingly innocuous remarks about the blame game over the Charlie Kirk assassination. The monologue was touching and powerful:

I’m not a regular viewer of any of the late-night shows these days and don’t know that I’ve watched one of Kimmel’s monologues since his emotional message thanking the doctors who saved his newborn son’s life back in 2017. But, naturally, I was curious to see what he would say about the circumstances that took him off the air.

The whole thing is worth viewing, but the important part, his reflection on our tradition of freedom of speech, starts right at the 7-minute mark.

*While ABC aired the show, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group, which own roughly 70 ABC affiliate stations, continue to refuse to air the show on their stations.

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22 responses to “Kimmel’s Return Monologue”

  1. Gregory Lawrence Brown Avatar
    Gregory Lawrence Brown

    My TV at home does not receive any channels. It is used exclusively to watch DVDs. It has been many years since I have watched any Late Night TV. I do have video tape of Bob Costas Later (1988-94) that I recorded while I was sleeping and watched the next day after work. That and Johnny Carson are likely the most recent Late night fare that I have viewed.
    As ever OTB has provided me all I need to know about current events. Thanks James for the opportunity to watch Jimmy Kimmel’s return.

    2
  2. Jen Avatar
    Jen

    That was a powerful monologue.

    I hope we all heed his comments about the First Amendment.

    5
  3. Gregory Lawrence Brown Avatar
    Gregory Lawrence Brown

    I did watch Late Night TV when I was in High School (class of 1966).
    Who remembers this guy?

    Les Crane was the first network television personality to compete head-on with host Johnny Carson after Carson became a fixture of late-night television.
    WikiP

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Crane#Early_life

    1
  4. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    I wonder how many viewers in the Nexstar and Sinclair areas are Kimmel fans who got blocked out. Given what I understand is relatively low viewership for late night television it’s probably not a big raw number. But it would be interesting if those fans and their neighbors suddenly recognized the strong political tilt of their local network affiliates and took a look around to see what else it was impacting.

    5
  5. becca Avatar
    becca

    Good for Kimmel. I am now a big fan.

    2
  6. Bobert Avatar
    Bobert

    @Joe:
    Ok, I’m not a late night fan, most likely because I like to get sleep in my old age.
    BUT, I did stay up to see Kimmel’s monologue.
    Unfortunately, my NextStar owned station, couldn’t/wouldn’t broadcast it.
    My feeling today is that this censorship was done out of:
    1) vindictiveness
    2) fundamental desire to apply control freedom of expression.
    3) fear of political/administrative repercussions.

    3
  7. Michael Reynolds Avatar
    Michael Reynolds

    One man, Kimmel, and one company, Disney, have finally stood up to Trump. Disney has been very slow to grow a pair, but they did in this at least. Every law firm partner at a firm that bowed down to Trump should watch that monologue and be ashamed. Every CEO who dropped to their knees because: money, should watch and ask themselves, if no one else, how it is that a late night comic is stronger and braver than they are.

    Jeff Bezos, one of the richest men in the world, does not have the strength of character, the integrity, the courage or the patriotism shown by a late night comedian. David Ellison and Shari Redstone, two very rich, very powerful people, lack the spine that Jimmy Kimmel clearly has. And more than a few college administrators were profiles in weakness and cowardice. Of course there’s no point even trying to name all the Republican politicians who know better, yet abandoned their so-called beliefs to grovel at the feet of the wanna-be dictator.

    Fucking cowards.

    18
  8. Scott Avatar
    Scott

    My Google question:

    Has the Nexstar Tegna merger been filed with the FCC?

    AI Answer:

    Yes, Nexstar and Tegna’s $6.2 billion merger is moving forward with paperwork expected to be filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and for antitrust review by the end of September 2025, according to reports from late September 2025. The deal, which requires FCC approval to overcome ownership limitations, is anticipated to close in the second half of 2026, subject to shareholder and regulatory clearances.

    Public comment opportunities on the Nexstar-Tegna merger will become available after the merger agreement is filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a process that typically follows the initial announcement of the deal. Critics are focused on the FCC’s role, potential job losses from the merger, reduced news diversity, and Nexstar’s recent decision to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which is seen by some as a political move to gain FCC approval. To participate, sign up for media alerts from consumer advocacy groups like Free Press, or visit the FCC website to find case filings and submit comments.

    Then what happens?

    Paperwork Filing: Nexstar and Tegna are planning to file the necessary merger applications by the end of September 2025.

    FCC and Regulatory Review    : The deal requires approval from the FCC, which regulates broadcast ownership.

    Ownership Cap: A significant hurdle for the merger is the current FCC cap of 39% on broadcast station ownership, which Nexstar’s combined reach would exceed.

    Timeline: The transaction is expected to conclude by the second half of 2026, provided all regulatory approvals are secured.

    How to Submit Public Comment.

    Find the Filings: The process begins when Nexstar files the merger application with the FCC. This filing will be publicly available through the FCC’s electronic filing system.

    Monitor Media Alerts: Sign up for email alerts from organizations like Free Press or the American Library Association (ALA) to be notified when the FCC opens the public comment period for the Nexstar-Tegna merger.

    Submit Your Comment: Once the comment period is open, you can submit your comments directly to the FCC. You can articulate why you support or oppose the merger, highlighting its potential impacts on local news, jobs, and community programming.

    AI does have its uses.

    4
  9. Jay L. Gischer Avatar
    Jay L. Gischer

    @Scott: Even though I fully expect the administration to ignore any public comment like they ignored public comments on the subject of Network Neutrality, I would like to give them a piece of my mind anyway. Go on record.

    So if you, or anyone else, finds where we can submit comments, please let us know.

    1
  10. Jay L. Gischer Avatar
    Jay L. Gischer

    I have not paid all that much attention to Kimmel over the years, so I am surprised that, like me, he has ties to Seattle, and many relatives and loved ones who are more conservative.

    What a gentle, wry sense of humor he has, too.

    1
  11. Gustopher Avatar
    Gustopher

    @Michael Reynolds:

    One man, Kimmel, and one company, Disney, have finally stood up to Trump. Disney has been very slow to grow a pair, but they did in this at least.

    Disney did not grow a pair. Disney caved to an angry mob, after caving to a fascist, because the fascism in our country is still weak.

    Disney deserves no praise. I hope the right wing starts cancelling their subscriptions, and it shows others that there’s no way to get on the good side of these fascists, because there is no good side. The best thing that can happen is if they serve as a warning to others that collaboration with fascists will hurt.

    And, the Sinclair/Nexstar affiliates are still not running the show. And Carr still has a job. The angry mob has some mobbing to do.

    (If Disney grew a pair, they would be pressuring the affiliates, pulling their feed — that would be actually doing something, and would be worthy of praise)

    11
  12. Michael Reynolds Avatar
    Michael Reynolds

    @Gustopher:
    I think cynicism is called for, but I think you’re overdoing it a bit.

    It was less about an angry mob and cancellations, and more about the 400 Hollywood celebs letter and Michael Eisner. Bob Iger is known to have a thin skin, and having his predecessor ask, ‘where’s the leadership?’ was a kick to the balls. And you do not prosper in entertainment by pissing off Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, and even more so, the mega-producers and big name directors.

    Also, Iger is old and thinking of legacy. He did not want that legacy to be submission to a fascist. Of course: money. But not just money. And I will offer praise for anyone in this supine country who pushes back, however they are motivated.

    ETA: Also they can’t cut the feed, they have contracts. They’d be sued, and they’d lose.

    4
  13. Liberal Capitalist Avatar
    Liberal Capitalist

    @Michael Reynolds:

    Kimmel, and one company, Disney, have finally stood up to Trump.

    Though Trump would never admit it, Disney is MUCH bigger (and culturally more significant) than Trump.

    Bigly.

    @Gustopher:

    Sinclair/Nexstar affiliates are still not running the show

    I think the fact that so many people saw this WITHOUT even having it on a Sinclair/Nexstar affiliate is proof that ownership of traditional TV channels is no longer as relevant as only a decade ago when these companies started sweeping them up with the expectation of controlling the message.

    In our home, we have those channels on in the morning for noise and weather, and after that… streaming. In the evening: torrents.
    Social media is what rules the attention for the most part.

    And here’s the thing: I’M OLD !!! (i know, surprise, right?)

    News consumption by those younger would not at all watch a Sinclair/Nexstar affiliate.
    It’s ALL social media and streaming.

    To ask them about OTA stations, well… you may as well ask them how their 8-Track collection is doing.

    And unless it is those that are dedicated core MAGA cultists, social media has taken a big turn against Trump (Huge!!!) because social media can’t exist WITHOUT free speech.

    Sinclair/Nexstar affiliates are the buggy whip makers of the today’s media choices.

    .

    (Disclosure: Pensacola is an ABC Sinclair affiliate, yet at 5 this morning, I was watching the 32 minutes of Kimmel’s opening. F those guys.)

    2
  14. Kathy Avatar
    Kathy

    @Gustopher:

    The buzz on Bluesky was that Disney had a subscription increase planned for this week, and did not want that backlash added to their Kimmel self-inflected backlash.

    This is the kind of thing that seems like a conspiracy theory, except Disney did increase fees for Disney+ yesterday.

    I won’t un-cancel Disney+, but will see the Mandalorian & Grogu movie* when it gets to theaters, assuming no further outrages from the Vader House. I’ll give the latest Tron movie a hard pass, though.

    *Imaginatively titled The Mandalorian and Grogu.

  15. Gustopher Avatar
    Gustopher

    @Michael Reynolds: I would include the 400 celebs and even Ted Cruz in the angry mob. (Ok, maybe not Cruz, because he is a Senator…)

    And I will offer praise for anyone in this supine country who pushes back, however they are motivated.

    But, are they pushing back? I’d say Disney miscalculated what direction the wind was blowing and are doing damage control.

    In World War 2, how were collaborators treated? Did the French resistance take them out for baguettes and encourage them to collaborate a bit less? No, they shot them.

    I’m not saying anyone at Disney should be killed, or even that the company be destroyed. But the company should pay a price large enough to dissuade others. And they shouldn’t be praised for cowardly crumbling in one direction and then the other.

    Foot traffic at Target hasn’t recovered since they gleefully cut their DEI programs to curry favor with the President, and their stock has gone from around $140 to around $90. And that’s a good thing. I hope Disney gets something similar.

    ETA: Also they can’t cut the feed, they have contracts. They’d be sued, and they’d lose.

    Having a backbone can cost money. It definitely requires doing something more than damage control. Something. Pretty much anything.

    Your 400 famous celebrities put something (however slight) on the line. I’m willing to grant them a presumptive assumption of at least some backbone.

    1
  16. Michael Cain Avatar
    Michael Cain

    @Michael Reynolds:

    And you do not prosper in entertainment by pissing off Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, and even more so, the mega-producers and big name directors.

    I wondered about the effect of having so many big names that sounded like they might well turn down any Disney projects.

  17. Michael Cain Avatar
    Michael Cain

    @Michael Reynolds:

    ETA: Also they can’t cut the feed, they have contracts. They’d be sued, and they’d lose.

    There seems to be a very wide range of online opinions about who can do what under the affiliate agreements. One of the biggest points of dispute is whether ABC has any options in areas where the affiliates decline to carry content. Perhaps approach an independent station about carrying Kimmel?

    ETA: The only time when I knew anything about this sort of stuff was when I worked for a giant cable company. There, and it was some time ago, the content owner got guarantees about carriage.

  18. Kathy Avatar
    Kathy

    In his substack today, Paul Krugman contrasts El Taco’s efforts to destroy democracy with those of Mad Vlad and Orban. The one salient fact he highlights is the the latter two were popular at the start, namely polling over 50% approval consistently.

    El Taco is not popular. Not with voters, and less so with the general population who didn’t vote in 2024.

    He also mentions Russia’s economy was terrible when Vlad took over, but he got to preside over a recovery. Orban came in at a time of high inflation, which started to go down in his regime’s early days. It’s not only Americans who vote their pocketbook, or who give approval based on it.

    The US economy these days…. I don’t think I need to elaborate.

    Mad Vlad is entrenched enough it would take a coup or revolution to remove him before his actual death. I’m not sure about Orban.

    El Taco, though, is entrenched enough. We know he can’t be removed through impeachment, and there’s even less chance of a 25th amendment move*. So he has pretty much a guaranteed four years to destroy democracy.

    I fear he may not allow the midterm elections to play out, more so if the economy really goes south and a blue wave begins to rise over the horizon. I don’t know what he’d do about it, but I’m almost certain he’ll do something, and I don’t mean just gerrymander the hell out of every red state. He could arrest candidates, election officials, suspend elections, send in troops. There’s literally no red line he won’t step over.

    *I can see a 25th amendment move when El Taco runs for a third term, if Vance can gather enough support. He almost certainly won’t. If he’s still alive and minimally capable, he will run and be supported by all his minions. If Vance makes a move, he’ll be botted out of Dumbfuckistan (aka MAGAtland) for good.

    2
  19. gVOR10 Avatar
    gVOR10

    Atrios links to a source claiming,

    More than a million people had canceled Disney streaming subscriptions as of Monday, the Disney source told me, and the company likely knew that trend would only continue the longer they kept Kimmel silenced.

    One unnamed source quoted by an independent reporter I don’t know, but if that’s anywhere near true, jeebus.

    I had to wait through a medical appointment for my wife today, so I watched Kimmel. Thanks James. He said he had agreed to read an official statement from company management, did a long bit pulling out and unfolding a piece of paper, and began, “To reinstate your Disney subscription …”

    After the election there was a lot of talk that saving democracy is too abstract for the average voter and it was a mistake to campaign on it. Looks like if you can tie the message to a concrete example it resonates pretty good.

    6
  20. Michael Reynolds Avatar
    Michael Reynolds

    @Michael Cain:
    Cutting off the affiliates would snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. We have our free speech martyr. We have our corporate walk-back. We’ve won. Turning this story into a corporate battle that would force stations to cover Kimmel, would be a mistake.

    We need to remember: we believe in free speech, we don’t believe in forcing anyone to listen to w what we like. That’s them, not us.

    1
  21. DK Avatar
    DK

    @gVOR10:

    After the election there was a lot of talk that saving democracy is too abstract for the average voter and it was a mistake to campaign on it.

    It was a half-baked analysis in assuming variables are fixed instead of dynamic: perhaps if Democrats hadn’t run on saving democracy then Trump and Republicans would’ve won even bigger?

    2
  22. DK Avatar
    DK

    @gVOR10:

    Atrios links to a source claiming,

    More than a million people had canceled Disney streaming subscriptions as of Monday

    Oof. Well that will certain stiffen an entertainment chief’s wobbly backbone.

    There’s a bit of Streisand Effect happening with Kimmelgate. Few would be thinking about Jimmy Kimmel’s politics this week, had Carr and conservatives not amplified his commentary with outrage. Now, they’ve inadvertently Kimmel a higher profile and bigger megaphone than he’s ever had before.

    4

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