Jimmy Kimmel Confirms Triumphant Return to Late-Night TV—Here’s the Exact Date

Tuesday night marks the long-awaited comeback of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC, ending a turbulent six-day suspension that shook late-night television and ignited a national debate over free speech. ABC and its parent company Disney confirmed the decision Monday afternoon, saying executives had held “thoughtful conversations” with Kimmel before green-lighting the show’s Sept. 23 return. What led to the pause • On Sept. 15, Kimmel condemned far-right reactions to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. • FCC chair Brendan Carr publicly pressured ABC to “change conduct” or face regulatory action, labeling Kimmel’s monologue “some of the sickest conduct possible.” • Station groups Nexstar and Sinclair quickly vowed to pre-empt the program, prompting Disney to suspend production last Wednesday. Backlash grew louder by the hour. Late-night peers Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver rallied behind Kimmel, while Hollywood A-listers Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep signed an open letter blasting “government threats to our freedom of speech.” Even Republican senator Ted Cruz, who chairs the Commerce Committee overseeing the FCC, warned that silencing the host set a “dangerous precedent.” Why ABC reversed course According to network insiders, three factors tipped the scales: 1. Escalating political blowback that framed the suspension as a First-Amendment fight rather than a programming decision. 2. Mounting subscriber-cancellation campaigns aimed at Disney+, Hulu and ESPN, amplified by Marvel star Tatiana Maslany. 3. Soft late-night ratings for the replacement lineup of “Nightline” reruns and syndicated sitcoms. One ABC executive admitted advertisers were “nervous about the optics and the audience drop-off.” What viewers can expect tonight Kimmel is expected to address the controversy head-on during his opening monologue. Taping begins at 5 p.m. PT with guests Ryan Gosling and Grammy winner Olivia Rodrigo already confirmed, per an ABC press release. Sources close to the show say staff writers have prepared both serious commentary and trademark comedy bits to “acknowledge the week that was without letting it define the future.” Industry impact The speed of Kimmel’s reinstatement underscores how fragile, yet influential, late-night platforms remain in the streaming era. Analysts note that ABC’s flagship talker still averages 1.4 million linear viewers and pulls in a younger digital audience on Hulu the next morning. “Advertisers don’t want that reach compromised for long,” says MediaRadar VP Jessica Wu. Digital buzz surges Google search interest for “Jimmy Kimmel return” spiked more than 1,800 percent in the past 24 hours, placing the topic at the top of real-time search charts. Social-media monitoring firm Brandwatch recorded over 2 million X (formerly Twitter) mentions since Sunday night, with sentiment shifting from 62 percent negative during suspension to 68 percent positive after ABC’s announcement. Free-speech ripple effect Legal scholars predict the FCC’s role in the flap will face scrutiny on Capitol Hill. “When a federal regulator even implies content-based punishment, it chills speech across the board,” says University of Georgia communications-law professor Sonya West. Cruz has already scheduled a Commerce Committee hearing for Oct. 2. What’s next for Kimmel • Contract: The host’s current deal runs through 2026; inside sources say renegotiations could accelerate as a show of good faith. • Ratings watch: Overnight Nielsen data on Wednesday morning will reveal whether the high-profile headlines translate into a viewership surge. • Content strategy: Producers are weighing a special round-table on media ethics featuring John Oliver and Samantha Bee later this week. Bottom line ABC’s swift U-turn brings Jimmy Kimmel back to the late-night stage, but the episode leaves lingering questions about political pressure, corporate risk tolerance and the boundaries of televised satire. For now, all eyes—and search engines—are locked on Hollywood Boulevard, where the curtains rise again tonight at 11:35 p.m. ET/10:35 p.m. CT.