“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” could be dead. Depending on who you ask, that’s the start of something great or terrible.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension over his comments regarding Charlie Kirk has elicited strong reactions and raised questions about the state of the media.
There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s break it all down:
I’ve been living under a rock for the past 36 hours. What’s going on with Kimmel? ABC pulled Kimmel’s late-night show off the air on Wednesday and suspended it “indefinitely.” The move came after the FCC threatened the network to take action over the host’s comments about how President Donald Trump’s base reacted to Charlie Kirk’s killing.
I’m guessing that decision didn’t go over so well? Uh, ya think? Plenty of Hollywood celebrities were not happy, voicing support for Kimmel. As for politicians, you’re never going to believe this, but it mostly went along party lines: Democrats were outraged; many Republicans cheered the decision. Trump was particularly pleased and suggested NBC take action against fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. But if you were looking for a view from “The View,” better luck next time.
Why did ABC cave to the FCC’s threat? One of the biggest local TV operators that pressured ABC to pull the plug on Kimmel is also looking to stay in the FCC’s good graces as it tries to get approval for a $6.2 billion deal. TV operators of affiliate stations might carry ABC programming, but the network doesn’t own them.
What are the implications here? I’ll leave it to my colleague Peter Kafka to summarize: “It’s very bad when American regulators call on American media companies to shut down a TV show they don’t like.” A situation like this naturally brings up lots of conversations about First Amendment rights.
What are those supporting ABC’s decision saying? A lot are touting this as an example of “consequence culture,” which they are adamant is not the same thing as “cancel culture.” Still, one of the main ABC affiliates that kicked up a stink about Kimmel is willing to re-air the show … as long as the host meets its list of demands.
So, with Stephen Colbert on his way out and Kimmel on thin ice, what does that mean for the future of late-night? It’s not looking good. Late-night shows weren’t thriving before Trump entered the picture, but the added political pressure isn’t helping their cause.
Oh yeah! What about the guys still on the air? Last night, Stephen Colbert, along with NBC’s Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, and The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart, all responded to Kimmel’s suspension with comedy and defiance.
Okay, this was enlightening. Anything else? While not directly related to Kimmel, Starbucks got caught up in its own Charlie Kirk saga. A Starbucks barista refused to write Kirk’s name on a customer’s drink, citing company policy. I think you know where this is headed. The clips went viral, causing lots of outrage. Starbucks eventually cleared the air, stating that political names can now be used on drink orders. So, best of luck ordering your venti cold brew, George Washington.
Dan DeFrancesco, deputy executive editor and anchor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Akin Oyedele, deputy editor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York.
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