Jimmy Kimmel Live! has attracted millions of viewers on broadcast during Kimmel’s highly anticipated return from suspension. Cameras captured the host delivering an emotional monologue on free speech, blending sincerity with humor as he addressed the controversy surrounding his remarks about Charlie Kirk.
ABC confirms Jimmy Kimmel Live! garnered 6.3 million views upon return
ABC confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! attracted 6.3 million broadcast viewers on Tuesday during Jimmy Kimmel’s first late-night return since his suspension. Nielsen data indicated the audience was more than triple the show’s usual 1.42 million average, despite the blackout of several local ABC affiliates that reach about 23% of American households (via CNN).
The network stated the episode achieved its highest rating in more than a decade among adults aged 18 to 49. On social media, Kimmel’s monologue about free speech in America has accumulated tens of millions of views, including 15 million on YouTube and 6.3 million on Instagram.
ABC reported that the nearly 30-minute monologue quickly became Kimmel’s most-viewed video ever on YouTube, surpassing his emotional 2017 segment about his son’s heart condition.
The clip drew more than a million views per hour after posting, and on-demand viewing will likely increase those numbers further. Several major markets did not air the episode because Nexstar and Sinclair station groups preempted it. Their affiliates, covering nearly one-quarter of U.S. TV households, chose not to carry the program, which likely pushed many viewers to YouTube and other streaming platforms.
Reuters reported that the broadcast also featured remarks from former President Donald Trump. Speaking from Air Force One, Trump said Kimmel had “no talent” and “no ratings,” to which Kimmel replied, “Well, I do tonight!” His comments were met with applause in the studio. The suspension stemmed from Kimmel’s remarks on September 15 about the individual accused of killing noted conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Following pressure from the Trump administration and an FCC warning to ABC affiliates, Walt Disney reinstated Kimmel after six days, citing both audience demand and the host’s right to free expression.
