Jimmy Kimmel and his show will return to ABC tonight, after the decision last week to pull his show from the air.
Disney pulled the show after two major affiliate station owners, Nexstar Media and Sinclair, announced they would preempt his program.
This was in response to remarks Kimmel made in his monologue relating to the murder of Charlie Kirk, specifically the political leanings of the assassin which seemed to conform with Kimmel’s personal worldview rather than the emerging facts.
In a fast moving, and emotionally charged, national situation, these were judged as unhelpful, disrespectful or peddling disinformation by many on all sides of the political divide.
The situation took a serious turn for Disney when comments by FCC chair Brendan Carr were taken to imply that he felt broadcasters react to the Kimmel comments.
Nexstar were particularly sensitive to this, as they would be needing Carr’s approval to an upcoming merger.
At the Concordia Summit yesterday, Carr denied he had tried to force ABC to fire Kimmel. He said, as reported by Deadline that this:
“…did not happen in any way, shape or form”.
Disney has released a statement on Kimmel’s reinstatement, saying:
“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return to the show on Tuesday.”
The issue became a political hot potato, with it being pushed as a free speech issue rather than a potential compliance problem at a private company.
Former President Obama commented very publicly, but was then reminded of the alleged role of him and his wife in Roseanne Barr’s sacking, and lack of action around Gina Carano, thus proving that in the internet age there are always receipts no matter where you are in the hierarchy or which side of the divide you fond yourself on.
400 celebrities, including Tom Hanks and Martin Short, co-signed a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union decrying the action.
Kimmel’s return has been approved by Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, and Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment.
Sinclair Broadcast Group says they still plan to preempt the show, but talks are continuing.
