Jimmy Kimmel's ABC Return Ends Suspension Following Controversy

Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show, which had been suspended by ABC following controversial remarks about the late conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, is set to resume airing. His return has been warmly welcomed by fellow late-night hosts including Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, and Jon Stewart, who viewed the suspension as part of a broader, politically charged backlash against free speech and political comedy. Colbert described the news as a relief, calling the end of the suspension a conclusion to a "long national late-nightmare," while Meyers highlighted the significant public pushback against President Trump's attempts to suppress critical voices in media. The controversy began after Kimmel's monologue remarks drew criticism from the Federal Communications Commission and led to some stations preempting his show, but ABC reversed its decision after discussions with Kimmel. The support from his peers underscores the importance of comedic commentary on politics across networks, with Meyers emphasizing that jokes about presidents from all sides are a longstanding tradition in late-night television. Kimmel's show is scheduled to return to ABC on September 23, marking a return to normalcy for the late-night landscape amid ongoing debates about media and political expression.