Late-night television was thrown into chaos this week after ABC abruptly pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its schedule, leaving viewers stunned and sparking heated debate across the industry. The suspension came after Kimmel’s controversial remarks about the recent death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, comments that quickly snowballed into one of the biggest broadcasting scandals of the year. With one of its longest-running shows suddenly off the air, ABC has now revealed what will temporarily take its place — and the choice has people talking.
Instead of Kimmel’s nightly monologue, audiences tuning in to the familiar 11:35 p.m. slot were greeted by reruns of Steve Harvey’s Celebrity Family Feud. The decision was confirmed just two days after Kimmel’s remarks drew backlash, with ABC calling the move a “pre-emption” while executives scramble to decide the long-term future of the show. Though lighthearted game show reruns are far from a permanent solution, they give the network breathing room as it faces pressure from both viewers and affiliates.
The fallout, however, has been far more dramatic behind the scenes. Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, two of ABC’s largest affiliate owners, both announced they were suspending Kimmel’s program on their local stations. Nexstar described airing the show as “not in the public interest,” while Sinclair went further, demanding an apology to Kirk’s family and even calling for a charitable donation. Sinclair also announced it would air a televised tribute to Kirk in place of Friday night’s episode, adding to the growing list of programming changes tied to the controversy.
For Hollywood, the saga marks a jarring turn. Just days earlier, stars were celebrating the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, while Kimmel himself was photographed attending the event. Now, the host’s two-decade run on ABC hangs in the balance, with industry insiders questioning whether late-night comedy can survive in today’s polarized climate. As ABC fills his slot with Harvey’s reruns for now, the real question remains: will Jimmy Kimmel Live! ever return, or has television’s late-night landscape just shifted forever?