ABC’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, is preparing to make a comeback on Tuesday following a recent suspension that sparked a national conversation on freedom of speech. The show will feature a surprise appearance by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan.
Despite this, two groups of ABC affiliate stations have announced that they will not air Kimmel’s return episode. Nexstar Media Group, overseeing 32 ABC affiliates, stated that they will continue to preempt the show until ensuring a respectful and constructive dialogue environment. Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest ABC affiliate operator in the country, also confirmed that they will not broadcast Kimmel’s show.
Citytv, owned by Rogers Communications and holding Canadian broadcasting rights for Kimmel’s show, will resume airing the program on Tuesday night.
Sarah McLachlan, who initially canceled a performance at the U.S. premiere of her documentary “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery” in support of free speech, will be performing on Kimmel’s show. Publicists confirmed that McLachlan will also feature as an interview guest to promote her new album, “Better Broken,” as originally planned before Kimmel’s suspension.
Kimmel, who made his first social media post since the suspension, paid tribute to television icon Norman Lear, expressing admiration for his impact on television and society.
The suspension of Kimmel’s show came after controversial remarks made during a monologue, which led to a subsequent statement by FCC chair Brendan Carr. Carr criticized Kimmel’s comments and hinted at potential FCC actions against the show.
Following these events, Nexstar and Sinclair decided to replace Kimmel’s show with alternative programming. This move was supported by President Donald Trump, who lauded the decision as positive news for the country.
Amid debates on free speech and government intervention, some viewed Carr’s involvement as overreach. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren highlighted possible federal interference and drew parallels to past incidents involving broadcasters and political figures.
In response to these developments, Senate Democrats accused Carr of weaponizing the FCC for political censorship. However, Carr denied the FCC’s direct involvement in the suspension, attributing the decision to low ratings.
The situation has raised concerns about the intersection of media, politics, and free speech, prompting ongoing discussions on the boundaries of expression in the public domain.
