Jimmy Kimmel Live! Returns with Ratings Surge After Temporary Suspension: Here Are the Numbers

Jimmy Kimmel Live! is back, and audiences are taking notice.

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, Jimmy Kimmel’s long-running late-night program returned to ABC, one day after Disney announced the end of the show’s “indefinite hiatus.” Viewers tuned in eagerly to see what Kimmel, 57, had to say.

The host’s return, which included a monologue addressing Donald Trump and the FCC over controversial remarks, drew an average of 6.26 million viewers on traditional television, according to preliminary Nielsen ratings. This figure is more than three times the show’s usual viewership and does not include on-demand audiences — not to mention that several local ABC affiliates did not air the episode.

Video of Kimmel’s monologue posted to the show’s YouTube account has amassed 15.9 million views in less than 24 hours, and across social media platforms, the segment has garnered over 26 million views.

The episode aired just over a week after Kimmel’s Oct. 15 monologue, in which he commented on the shooting death of conservative personality Charlie Kirk. That segment led Disney’s ABC to temporarily pull the show following statements from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.

Disney later confirmed on Monday, Sept. 22, that Kimmel would return the next day, though some affiliates chose to preempt the broadcast. Nexstar Media and Sinclair, which together make up a large portion of ABC’s affiliate network, announced they would not air the show on their stations.

Prior to ABC’s temporary suspension, Carr warned that the FCC could take action against the network and Disney over Kimmel’s remarks regarding Kirk.

During his monologue, Kimmel addressed the fatal shooting, saying: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it. In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving. On Friday, the White House flew the flags at half staff, which got some criticism, but on a human level, you can see how hard the president is taking this.”

Kimmel also aired clips of President Donald Trump responding to questions about Kirk’s death, during which Trump appeared more concerned with the construction of a new White House ballroom. Kimmel commented, “Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief, construction. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish, okay?”

Before the episode, Kimmel offered his condolences on social media: “Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”

Nexstar and Sinclair condemned Kimmel’s comments. Nexstar recently revealed plans to acquire Tegna, a rival broadcast company, for more than $6 billion. The acquisition, which would further consolidate local television ownership and place Nexstar in 80% of U.S. households, requires FCC approval under Carr’s leadership.

Carr praised Nexstar for “doing the right thing” and thanked Sinclair for “taking quick action” last week. President Trump, meanwhile, celebrated Kimmel’s temporary removal from the air, claiming the host was “fired for lack of talent.”

Prior to Disney’s announcement of Kimmel’s return, an open letter from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), signed by over 400 entertainment figures including Tom Hanks and Jennifer Aniston, defended the constitutional right to free speech.