Jimmy Kimmel Makes Massive Return: Colbert, Stewart, and Meyers React to Late-Night Comeback
After a brief, drama-filled hiatus that had everyone from your uncle to former presidents throwing in their two cents, Jimmy Kimmel has officially made his grand return to the airwaves. Seth Meyers celebrated Kimmel’s return during his A Closer Look segment, because nothing says “welcome back” like a deep dive into political commentary.
Jimmy Kimmel Is Back, and Everyone Has an Opinion
The whole saga felt like a fever dream, with “cancel culture” cries, First Amendment debates, and a bizarrely coordinated boycott campaign. But now, the studio lights are back on, and Jimmy Kimmel is back. Let’s be real, the whole situation was a mess. Jon Stewart joked,” That campaign that you all launched pretending that you were gonna cancel Hulu while secretly racing through four seasons of Only Murders in the Building, that really worked. Congratulations.”
After Jimmy Kimmel made some comments about Republicans and the tragic killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, the corporate overlords at Disney and ABC got nervous. Like, really nervous. In a move that surprised no one and everyone at the same time, they pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the lineup “indefinitely.”
The official line from Disney, as reported by TheWrap, was that they needed to avoid “further inflaming a tense situation.” They claimed to have had “thoughtful conversations” with Jimmy Kimmel before letting him back on the air. Translation: “Please don’t make us lose any more money.” So, how did Jimmy Kimmel handle his much-anticipated return? With a mix of raw emotion, self-deprecating humor, and a clear message.
The Big Jimmy Kimmel Comeback?
He wasn’t exactly apologetic, but he was certainly reflective. According to NBC News, Kimmel got emotional during his opening monologue, making it clear he never intended to make light of a young man’s death. “You understand it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he said, later adding, “This show is not important.”
But he quickly followed up with the crucial point: “The reason this show is not important is because I live in a country that allows this show to be on the air.”It was a heartfelt moment, and according to audience members, it landed perfectly. One attendee, Dean Springs, told NBC News he wouldn’t call it an apology but described it as “heartfelt,” noting that Kimmel “acknowledged how the other side felt; he put himself out there.”
That’s the Jimmy Kimmel we know—not backing down, but showing a bit of that human vulnerability that makes his brand of comedy so effective. You can’t go through a public shakedown like this without your friends having your back. The late-night crew, a veritable Justice League of political satire, came out swinging. Stephen Colbert couldn’t resist a jab, humorously lamenting his loss of martyr status. “Once more, I am the only martyr in late-night,” he quipped.
Final Thoughts
Despite all the controversy, Jimmy Kimmel is back. Whether you love him, hate him, or find him mildly amusing, his return is a win for the kind of unfiltered, often uncomfortable, and necessary conversations that late-night television at its best can provide. The drama might be over for now, but something tells me this won’t be the last we hear of it. Welcome back, Jimmy. The circus just wasn’t the same without you.
