UPDATE: Stephen Colbert just welcomed back Jimmy Kimmel to late-night television, declaring himself the “only martyr in late night” after Kimmel’s show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!“, was reinstated by Disney. The shocking turnaround comes just days after the show was pulled from the air following controversial comments by Kimmel regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In his opening monologue on Thursday, Colbert expressed relief and joy over the show’s return, stating, “Just a few hours before we taped this broadcast, we got word that our long national late-night nightmare is over.” The announcement comes as a significant relief for Kimmel and his team, who faced uncertainty after the show’s abrupt suspension last Wednesday.
Disney’s decision to reverse the suspension was announced on Monday, just days after Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, criticized Kimmel’s remarks. The initial suspension sparked outrage across Hollywood and among politicians, raising alarms about free speech in America. Colbert described the suspension as a “blatant assault on the freedom of speech.”
Colbert humorously noted that while Kimmel’s show is back, he is set to face cancellation himself, with CBS planning to end “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in May 2026. “Once more, I am the only martyr in late night,” Colbert quipped, prompting laughter from his audience.
In a related comment, Jon Stewart addressed the issue on his show, “The Daily Show“, acknowledging that public backlash was instrumental in bringing Kimmel’s show back on air. He emphasized the need for Americans to “fight like hell for this constitutional republic.”
This latest development underscores the ongoing tensions between media freedom and political discourse in the U.S. As Kimmel returns to the spotlight, viewers are left wondering about the implications for late-night television and freedom of expression in the current political climate.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story and the ramifications it may have for the late-night landscape.