There has been more talk about Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show since Disney said he would be back on TV. ABC first canceled Jimmy Kimmel Live! because people were upset about what he said about a recent national tragedy, but now the network has changed its mind and said that the host will be back on the air.
Disney’s statement made it clear that the suspension was only for a short time to give people some space during a difficult time. The company said it made the decision to avoid making things worse. After talking about it with Kimmel and others at ABC and Disney, the network and its parent company decided that the show should come back on the air the next Tuesday.
But there is a big problem with the planned return. Sinclair Inc., a big company that runs ABC affiliate stations and is known for being conservative, has said that it will not show the show in almost 40 markets across the country. In those areas, Kimmel’s show will be replaced by local news programming.
Sinclair said that the choice was made because of worries about the network’s responsibility and content standards. The company said it is talking to ABC and will not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! again until those talks lead to real actions. They also want Kimmel to apologize in writing and take other steps to show that he is responsible.
Sinclair has said that one of the conditions is a public apology to the people who were hurt by the recent incident that was talked about on the show. Another condition is a meaningful personal gesture, like giving money to related causes. The company stressed that these steps are necessary to make sure the show fits with what it thinks is appropriate for national broadcasting.
Viewers in areas served by Sinclair affiliates still don’t know if Jimmy Kimmel will come back in the future. The bigger effects on late-night TV and media accountability are still coming to light.