Jimmy Kimmel’s Return From Suspension Breaks Ratings Records Despite Boycotts

ABC's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' returned to the air after an ABC-imposed suspension, and the late-night show drew its biggest audience ever for a regular episode.

Record-Breaking Ratings of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'

According to early Nielsen data, the comeback episode was watched by 6.26 million viewers — more than triple the show's second-quarter 2025 average before Kimmel's summer break. The milestone comes despite the program not airing in nearly a quarter of U.S. TV households due to blackouts at 66 ABC affiliates owned by Nexstar and Sinclair. The episode also posted a 0.87 rating in the key adults 18-49 demographic, the strongest performance for a standard instalment in over a decade, since March 2015.

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Viral Impact Online

ABC released the first 28 minutes of the episode to YouTube shortly after airing. Within hours, the monologue alone crossed 15 million views on the platform, setting a record for Kimmel. Across all social media, the segment has accumulated more than 26 million views, signalling massive digital engagement alongside the traditional TV surge.

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Jimmy Kimmel Addresses Suspension and Controversy

Jimmy Kimmel opened the night with an 18-minute monologue reflecting on the controversy that led to his suspension. He explained that his earlier comments regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk's killer were never intended to make light of a tragedy and emphasised that he does not find humour in murder. The host also thanked viewers across the political spectrum who supported his right to speak without government interference.

Image Courtesy: ABC

In his remarks, Jimmy Kimmel pushed back against threats of an FCC investigation from Commissioner Brendan Carr, calling such actions un-American. He also criticised President Donald Trump for publicly celebrating efforts to push late-night hosts off the air.

According to Jimmy Kimmel, the president had already pressured CBS to part ways with Stephen Colbert and is now encouraging networks to remove Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers as well, potentially costing hundreds of staff members their jobs. Kimmel urged his audience to be even louder in opposition if such moves advance further.

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Late-Night Landscape Shifts

The surge in viewership for 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' echoes recent ratings boosts for 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,' which saw a sharp audience increase following CBS's announcement that the program will end in 2026. Like Colbert’s bump, Kimmel's return shows how political controversy and uncertainty around late-night programming continue to drive audiences back to network TV.

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