Kimmel Returns With Record Ratings After Suspension

Julia Louis‑Dreyfus surprised Jimmy Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live! by bringing her family's puppy Ethel to comfort Kimmel and joked the pup was “a huge fan of the First Amendment.” The show was briefly pulled earlier this month after backlash to Kimmel’s comments about the accused killer of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and remarks from FCC chair Brendan Carr. ABC reinstated the program on Sept. 23, and Kimmel’s return drew a record 6.3 million viewers — roughly a 343% jump over the prior season average — plus more than 21 million YouTube views for the monologue. Media groups Nexstar and Sinclair declined to air the episode, leaving the show off the air in about 23% of U.S. markets (around 60 cities), and Kimmel later thanked former President Trump for the ratings bump.