Jimmy Letterman expresses despair over Jimmy Kimmel's suspension, commenting, "This is misery."
In a surprising turn of events, ABC has indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". This decision came after Kimmel criticized the narrative suggesting the assassin of right-wing YouTuber Charlie Kirk was motivated by MAGA or Republican views.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened ABC and its affiliates if they did not take action on Kimmel, demanding consequences for the broadcaster and Disney. Carr issued his threat on his right-wing YouTuber Benny Johnson's channel.
Jimmy Kimmel himself has not commented on his suspension. However, he did text David Letterman, who shared that Kimmel was taking care of himself.
Letterman, a veteran of late-night TV with a career spanning over four decades, has expressed his feelings about the situation. In an interview with Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, he called the events surrounding Kimmel's suspension "managed media" and "silly". He also compared FCC chairman Brendan Carr's tactics to those in a mafia-like organization, referencing the author of "The Godfather".
Letterman has been critical of recent changes in late-night TV. In July, he criticized CBS for cancelling "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert", calling it "pure cowardice". He also suggested that Kimmel's removal from late-night TV was premeditated.
Interestingly, Letterman expressed skepticism about CBS's stated reason for axing the show being purely a financial decision. This sentiment is shared by a number of celebrities, including Barack Obama, Wanda Sykes, Ben Stiller, Jean Smart, and more, who have criticized Kimmel's suspension. On the other hand, conservative figures like President Donald Trump have celebrated the move.
Nexstar Media and Sinclair, both subject to FCC oversight, announced they would not air "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, Skydance Media, whose $8 billion deal for Paramount Global largely backed by Larry Ellison, stated that its executives were not involved in the "Late Show" cancelation.
David Letterman started his late-night TV career in 1982 with the debut of NBC's "Late Night" and continued with CBS's "The Late Show" from 1993-2015. Since then, he has hosted a talk series for Netflix, "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction".
As of this writing, the only comment from Disney or ABC on the Kimmel situation was an ABC spokesperson's statement Wednesday: "'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' will be pre-empted indefinitely." The future of late-night TV remains uncertain as the industry navigates these contentious waters.
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