Since we seem to be in times where history books are being rewritten constantly, we might as well update the definition of V-J Day. Because based upon the level of self-congratulatory stories and posts that literally exploded across the internet yesterday afternoon that outdated definition clearly not to the victory over Japan, it’s the victory for Jimmy.
Here’s how the ASSOCIATED PRESS’ Mark Kennedy broke the news in as balanced a way as possible:
ABC will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show in the wake of criticism over his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, officials with the network said Monday.
“We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,” ABC said a statement.
In the wake of that simple declaration, it seems every potential constituency that would like to think they were the catalyst for this bragged about their success. I’ve previously mused about how those that cancelled Disney Plus and Hulu seem to think their stand supporting free speech; I think I’m clear that I’m not buying that. But there was at least more impactful outcry that seemed likely to impact the day-to-day business of operating a creative company which the LOS ANGELES TIMES’
(A) horde of actors, writers, musicians and artists made their opinions on the matter clear. Tom Hanks, Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Kerry Washington, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Pedro Pascal, Maya Rudolph and more than 400 other artists signed an open letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union calling for the defense of free speech in wake of Kimmel’s benching.
The letter, which was published Monday, says Kimmel’s suspension marks “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation” and said that the government’s “attempt to silence its critics” runs “counter to the values our nation was built upon, and our Constitution guarantees.” “Regardless of our political affiliation, or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country,” the letter continues. “We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power — because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.”
The letter came together over the weekend, according to Jessica Weitz, director of artist and entertainment engagement at the ACLU. The list of names continued to grow after the letter was published, she said.
Disney might be able to deal without your meager fees and contribution to its monetizable audience, but dealing with the likelihood of talent blacklisting likely resonated more with the louder voices in the room. Not everything can be produced with reality stars, animated IP and Disney kids–despite I’m sure the best efforts of many to do so.
I also took note of another burdgeoning grassroots movement that TOO MUCH TELEVISION’s Rick Ellis reported on over the weekend that involved greater multiples than streaming fees:
While most people understand in the abstract that the theme parks and cruise ship business is financially important to the Walt Disney Company, I don’t think they realize just how vital it is to the financial success of the company…the revenue from this division is massive. Disney Experiences reported $9 Billion in Revenue for Q3 2025. Domestically, the theme parks recorded $6.4 billion in revenue and $1.6 billion in income. International parks reported $1.69 billion in revenue and $422 million in income.
(B)ased on what I’ve learned over the past day, Disney is facing a growing problem with cancellations in previously planned experiences as well as a drop in interest in booking new events. I received an email from someone who works at what was described as the “escalation retention” team at one of the U.S. Disney resorts and the picture that was painted was a grim one for Disney:
“The cancellations have been coming for 48 hours and they just keep increasing. A lot of times, you can turn it around by offering some extras, or a discount on the total. But these guests can’t be talked out of it. The ones I talk to have mostly been nice, but just crushed. I keep hearing how disappointed they are and how they don’t know if they’ll ever see us the same way.”
At price tags of tens of thousands of dollars for a week at a resort or $50,000 for a themed wedding, it’s likely that those making those sort of ideological statements were more deeply connected to investors. So I’m of the mindset that the $80 million hit Disney took to its bottom line in those few days was more an acknowledgment of those decisions.
So believe what you choose, but at least Jimmy’s gonna do at least one more monologue starting tonight, and I dare say that viewership, if not ratings, are likely to spike. Because while I have zero doubt there will be curiosity clicking of online uploads thanks to the convictions of those in control of (at this writing) one major station group that monologue still won’t be able to be seen. Added Kennedy:
Sinclair said Monday that it would not air Kimmel’s show Tuesday and would broadcast news programming instead. “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,” the company said. There was no immediate comment from Nexstar on its plans for Kimmel’s return.
And they seem to be influenced by at least one prominent spokesperson who seems to be taking the level of attention his organization received over the weekend to a new level of empowerment:
Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, the organization founded by (Charlie) Kirk and now headed by his widow, posted on X about Kimmel’s reinstatement: “Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but it’s their mistake to make. Nexstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice.”
In his Substack post yesterday morning, POPULAR INFORMATION’s Judd Legum took note of the factthat perhaps that expressed conviction might have been, well, paid programming:
The executive chairman of the Sinclair Broadcast Group is David Smith, who controls the company with other members of his family. Sinclair’s statement says it will not consider airing Kimmel’s show unless and until Kimmel makes “a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA,” Kirk’s right-wing political advocacy group. Unmentioned is that David Smith, through his family foundation, donated $250,000 to Turning Point USA last year.
Last time I looked, nobody’s asserting that the Kirks and their flock were a non-profit group. Nor is Sinclair. As evidenced by the about-face they exercised last Friday which Legum pounced upon:
Sinclair …pledged that it would “air a special in remembrance of Charlie Kirk this Friday, during Jimmy Kimmel Live’s timeslot…the …special depicts Kirk primarily as a religious and prophetic figure. “Charlie Kirk was known first and foremost for his faith in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” news anchor Jan Jeffcoat says. “And he often spoke about the key values in his life, God, family, freedom, and country in that order. And he reminded Americans that life’s most important questions aren’t about wealth or success, but about your faith and your relationship with God”.
Sinclair announced that the Charlie Kirk special would air on its ABC affiliates “during Jimmy Kimmel Live’s timeslot” and “across all Sinclair stations this weekend.” Further, “Sinclair is offering the special to all ABC affiliates across the country.”
A few minutes before the special was scheduled to air, however, Sinclair changed course and announced that “Sinclair will continue to air ABC network programming as scheduled in the late-night time period.” Instead, the program was published on The National News Desk’s Youtube Channel.
Maybe they got a glance at some recent information of what happened to at least one now-former ABC station when they dropped the network. In Miami, longtime top-tier affiliate WPLG, an outlier that was not part of another large group and just happening to controlled by a company owned by Warren Buffett, became an independent. You might recall we mused about that when the news was first announced. Well, the first wave of ratings are in and so far, it’s a lose-lose proposition.
Since the August 4th switch, a period encompassing a third quarter where Kimmel was rarely airing original episodes with his presence, WPLG’s audience in Kimmel’s former time slot has fallen by more than half both with total persons and persons 25-54, the key local sales demo. On the other hand, while the once non-existant D-2 channel now known as ABC 18 has seen its numbers jump on a proportionate basis by hundreds and thousands of percentage points, the market’s delivery to ABC has fallen nearly in half. The story isn’t much better for other key ABC programs such as WORLD NEWS TONIGHT, GOOD MORNING AMERICA and THE VIEW.
Now Miami isn’t the same as Washington, D.C., the largest of Sinclair’s ABC affiliate markets and clearly one in the crosshairs of anyone who might incite a caps-inflated hissyfit from a certain insomniac truther. On the other hand, Washington, D.C. is a lot more blue-leaning and, especially in cold months, has substantially more total television viewing than do other Sinclair markets.
So maybe that’s why Sinclair’s commitment to its news product isn’t going beyond one night?
At least ABC and Disney have the courage to not place such a guardrail on theirs.
Until next time…