Kimmel Return Draws Record Audience Amid Preemptions

Jimmy Kimmel returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live! after a near‑weeklong suspension that ABC/Disney reversed amid public outcry. The comeback drew roughly 6.26–6.3 million TV viewers — the biggest regularly scheduled audience in the show's history outside Super Bowl/Oscars editions — about a 343% surge over the season average and earned a 0.87 rating among adults 18–49, Kimmel’s strongest demo performance in a decade. About 23% of U.S. households could not watch because Nexstar and Sinclair affiliates continued to preempt the episode. Kimmel's emotional opening monologue apologized for how his remarks were interpreted, attacked President Trump and alleged political pressure on broadcasters; that segment went viral, garnering roughly 20–26 million views across YouTube and other social platforms. The show reignited debates about free speech and media independence, drew scrutiny from some senators about affiliate‑government ties, and left Nexstar saying it will continue evaluating the program.