US late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has officially broken his silence after his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, was abruptly shelved last week — leaving fans, critics and network bosses all on the edge of their (very expensive) studio chairs.
Jimmy’s first post back on social media wasn’t a fiery comeback, a vague ‘see you soon’, or even a meme. Instead, it was a snap of himself with legendary TV producer and activist Norman Lear, captioned: “Missing this guy today”.
For those who missed the late-night commotion: Kimmel’s network ABC (owned by Disney) booted Jimmy Kimmel Live! from air last week after he took aim at how the MAGA movement reacted to the death of far-right commentator, Charlie Kirk. Kimmel accused some on the right of “trying to score political points” off the situation, which didn’t go down quietly online or in political circles.
US President Donald Trump and other MAGA figures heaped praise on ABC’s suspension of Kimmel — while plenty of critics, plus Disney and ABC subscribers, unleashed backlash at the network for hitting pause on the show in the first place. After a frantic week, Disney and ABC relented, and Kimmel is set to return to the desk tonight in the US.
Who is Norman Lear?
So why post a picture with Norman Lear? Lear, who died in 2023 at the age of 101, was a foundational force in US television, responsible for classic sitcoms including All in the Family and The Jeffersons.
Lear’s work covered racism, sexism, the women’s liberation movement, antisemitism, abortion, homophobia, the Vietnam War and class conflict. He even put himself on Richard Nixon’s infamous “enemies list”.
As Kimmel put it, “Norman was the genius who brought us some of the greatest television shows and characters of all time”, and “He changed situation comedy in the best possible way. He taught us so much about so many serious things, always making us laugh while he did it”.
But Lear’s legacy was even bigger off screen. He was a vehement defender of the First Amendment and an outspoken critic of Donald Trump. In a 2016 speech at the International Documentary Association awards, Lear said, “If [Trump] or his administration in any way threatens the free speech, it’s time for us to hunker down and fight.”
In a 2016 interview with Democracy Now!, Lear warned against threats to free speech and said, “When I was a boy, I learned to love my Declaration of Independence… and my Constitution and my Bill of Rights, because they were the protections Americans needed in a free society where everybody is equal under the law.”
“Missing this guy today,” Kimmel wrote under the pic — a pretty clear nod to Lear’s brand of fearlessly tackling social issues on prime-time TV, and maybe to the kind of clear-eyed courage Kimmel could use right now.
While Kimmel’s back on ABC itself, the controversy hasn’t totally passed. Major US affiliate owners Sinclair and Nexstar have announced they’ll keep pre-empting his show locally, swapping it for their own news coverage while “discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return”, Sinclair said in a statement. Nexstar said they want “assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve”.
Tonight, Kimmel’s line-up is packed with talent starring in Disney-owned projects — Glen Powell, Sarah McLachlan (who recently stood up for free speech by refusing to perform at her Hulu documentary premiere), and upcoming appearances from Ethan Hawke, Lisa Ann Walter, Peyton Manning and more.
I for one am sat for his return!
Lead image: Getty
The post What Does Jimmy Kimmel’s First Instagram Post After Suspension Really Mean? appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
