ABC-affiliated stations have been notified that "Jimmy Kimmel Live" will be absent at least until Thursday, with "Celebrity Family Feud" serving as its replacement.
In a surprising turn of events, ABC's late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live" has been suspended at least until Friday, following controversial comments made by Jimmy Kimmel about the political commentator Charlie Kirk.
The network, via its parent company Disney, made the announcement on Thursday at midday. This decision comes in the midst of a roiling controversy that has involved the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), broadcasters, and even members of Congress.
The controversy began brewing on social media on Tuesday, following Kimmel's remarks in his Monday night monologue. The FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, threatened to launch another investigation into ABC over these comments, opening the door for further action.
The ABC Affiliate Board remains engaged with ABC regarding this issue. Executives were in direct conversation with Jimmy Kimmel and his representatives on Wednesday evening, but the network has not yet made a formal decision about the future of the show.
The Kimmel standoff is also linked to Nexstar's push for the FCC to overhaul its existing limits on TV station ownership. Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcast Group plan to preempt Jimmy Kimmel's show due to his remarks related to the MAGA movement and Charlie Kirk. If successful, this transaction would put Nexstar over the ownership limit line, unless the FCC revamps those rules.
Broadcasters have lobbied for years to loosen the FCC's various ownership caps on local broadcast TV and radio stations, arguing they are anachronistic in an era of digital giants. The moves by Nexstar and Sinclair against ABC are a rare example of broadcast TV station owners asserting power against media giants.
Affiliate stations used to be enormously powerful, serving as a vital link in the network's distribution around the country. However, starting in the late 1990s, the economics of TV changed so dramatically that stations started paying "reverse comp" to networks.
Meanwhile, Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, announced an investigation into the Trump administration, ABC, and Sinclair regarding their "efforts to censor opposition" to President Donald Trump. Garcia stated, "Every American has a duty to stand up for our First Amendment values."
The speed with which Jimmy Kimmel's show was compromised came as a shock to many in Hollywood and broadcast TV veterans. A broadcast TV station executive commented, "Remember September 17 - that's the day we lost the First Amendment in America."
Jimmy Kimmel Live will be absent from ABC at least through Thursday, with repeat episodes of Celebrity Family Feud filling the 11:35 p.m. slot on ABC. The future of the show remains uncertain, as the ABC Affiliate Board and the network continue their discussions.
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