Jimmy Kimmel appears set to return to late night with guests that suggest a shift away from politics after his suspension following his comments on Charlie Kirk.
While his first post to social media since he went off the air was politically charged, he’ll go back to interviewing movie stars and sports figures with no real connection to Washington.
Actor Glenn Powell is set to be Kimmel’s first guest to greet him Tuesday night, a figure who would likely have been on the show had the suspension not happened to promote his new Apple TV series, ‘Chad Powers.’
His second guest, however, will offer Kimmel a chance to thank someone who publicly stood in solidarity with him: singer Sarah McLachlan.
McLachlan’s appearance comes just two days after she abruptly and dramatically canceled her much-anticipated performance at the Los Angeles premiere of Disney’s Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery documentary.
The star told the audience at The Ford theater on Sunday night that she would not be taking the stage in protest of what she described as the ‘muzzling of free speech.’
On Wednesday night, Kimmel will welcome actor Ethan Hawke, Abbott Elementary star Lisa Ann Walter and musician YUNGBLUD.
Former NFL star Peyton Manning, actor Oscar Nunez and indie rocker Alex G will join Kimmel on Thursday.
Jimmy Kimmel appears set to return to late night with guests that suggest a shift away from politics after his suspension following his comments on Charlie Kirk
While his first post to social media since he went off the air was politically charged, he’ll go back to interviewing movie stars and sports figures with no real connection to Washington
Notably, none of Kimmel’s guests are politicians nor were any of them one of the 400 celebrities who signed a letter defending the comic.
ABC announced last week that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be ‘preempted indefinitely’ in the wake of his controversial remarks about the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
According to Variety, ABC’s decision came after Nexstar Media, which operates dozens of affiliate stations across the country, threatened to drop Kimmel’s show from its programming lineup.
The dispute quickly became a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over free speech, political satire and the limits of late-night comedy.
While Kimmel has yet to directly address his comments about Kirk, fans believe his nod to Lear, a figure celebrated for pushing boundaries in television and never shying away from political or cultural controversy, speaks volumes.
On Monday, the ACLU and stars like Robert De Niro, Jane Fonda, Ben Affleck, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep signed an impassioned, open letter ‘in solidarity’ with the host.
The letter begins: ‘We the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech. Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists, and companies with retaliation for their speech strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country.
‘Last week, Jimmy Kimmel was taken off the air after the government threatened a private company with retaliation, marking a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.
Actor Glenn Powell is set to be Kimmel’s first guest to greet him Tuesday night, a figure who would likely have been on the show had the suspension not happened to promote his new Apple TV series, ‘Chad Powers’
His second guest, however, will offer Kimmel a chance to thank someone who publicly stood in solidarity with him: singer Sarah McLachlan
‘In an attempt to silence its critics, our government has resorted to threatening the livelihoods of journalists, talk show hosts, artists, creatives, and entertainers across the board. This runs counter to the values our nation was built upon, and our Constitution guarantees.
‘We know this moment is bigger than us and our industry. Teachers, government employees, law firms, researchers, universities, students and so many more are also facing direct attacks on their freedom of expression.’
‘Regardless of our political affiliation, or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country. We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power – because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.
‘This is the moment to defend free speech across our nation. We encourage all Americans to join us, along with the ACLU, in the fight to defend and preserve our constitutionally protected rights.’
In total, more than 430 movie, TV and stage stars as well as comedians, directors and writers added their names.
Hours later, Disney announced that it was reversing the ‘indefinite’ hiatus ordered Monday amid backlash to Kimmel’s suspension.
During his September 15 monologue, Kimmel said: ‘We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it.’
He was reprimanded Wednesday by Carr, who told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson that he was considering an investigation into Kimmel and ABC over the comments.
On Wednesday night, Kimmel will welcome actor Ethan Hawke (pictured), Abbott Elementary star Lisa Ann Walter and musician YUNGBLUD
Former NFL star Peyton Manning (pictured), actor Oscar Nunez and indie rocker Alex G will join Kimmel on Thursday
Executives at Sinclair and Nexstar responded by telling ABC and Disney they would not be airing Kimmel’s show until the comments were addressed.
A spokesman for Kirk’s non-profit organization, Turning Point USA, has called on both broadcasters to not ‘cave’.
Additionally, Sinclair called on Kimmel to issue a direct apology to the Kirk family and also make ‘a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA’.
Carr, during his conversation with Johnson, called an apology ‘a very reasonable, minimal step that can be taken’.
It remains unclear whether Kimmel will issue an apology during his show Tuesday.
