Hours before Jimmy Kimmel Live! was set to return to ABC on Tuesday night, another broadcasting network announced that it plans to preempt the show, meaning that nearly one-in-four Americans won’t be able to watch the late-night program. The Walt Disney Company indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s show last week following comments he made on air about the assassination of right-wing political commentator Charlie Kirk.Kimmel’s commentary began with the “MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize” Kirk’s alleged killer “as anything other than one of them,” and shifted to President Donald Trump’s reaction to a question about how he was handling the death of his friend. Trump responded that he was “very good,” and boasted about the nearby construction of a new ballroom at the White House.“Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction,” Kimmel said. “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend.”Credit: Gage Skidmore, FlickrThe backlash to Mr. Kimmel’s comments was swift. Broadcasting groups Nexstar and Sinclair refused to air Jimmy Kimmel Live! and published a list of demands for Kimmel to meet before they would reconsider. The list included a public apology to Mr. Kirk’s loved ones and a donation to Turning Point USA, the conservative nonprofit he founded.The controversy grew when Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission, made thinly veiled threats to retaliate against Disney-owned ABC, Nexstar, and Sinclair if they decided to air Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Mr. Carr’s comments sparked widespread conversations about government censorship and free speech on both sides of the political aisle. Countless people canceled their Disney+ subscriptions and Disney vacations, boycotting the company for what they saw as caving to the FTC’s demands. Even President Trump responded, dismissing the move as an attack on free speech and claiming Kimmel’s suspension was due to a lack of talent. “Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else, and he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk,” Mr. Trump said. “They should have fired him a long time ago, so you know, you can call that free speech or not. He was fired for lack of talent.”Credit: Video Screenshot, ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, ABCOn Monday, The Walt Disney Company announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return on September 23, stating that they decided to “suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” calling Kimmel’s comments “ill-timed and thus insensitive.” Disney said they had “thoughtful conversations” with Mr. Kimmel (and his legal team) over the weekend, but didn’t say whether Kimmel planned to meet any of the broadcasting networks’ demands.Within hours, Sinclair Broadcast Group confirmed it would preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday night and indefinitely refused to air the show’s return. “Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” the company said. “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”On Tuesday, Nexstar Media Group followed suit, meaning that 23% of American households won’t be able to watch the late-night show on live television.Credit: ABC“We made a decision last week to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ following what ABC referred to as Mr Kimmel’s ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments at a critical time in our national discourse,” Nexstar wrote in a statement. “We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an enviornment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve. In the meantime, we note that ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ will be available nationwide on multiple Disney-owned streaming products, while our stations will focus on continuing to produce local news and other programming relevant to their respective markets.”Bloomberg reporter Lucas Shaw (@lucas_shaw) shared Nexstar’s statement on X (formerly known as Twitter):NEW: Nexstar will continue to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live, joining Sinclair. The show will air on ABC in dozens of major markets.NEW: Nexstar will continue to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live, joining Sinclair. The show will air on ABC in dozens of major markets. pic.twitter.com/R1sMjBPjri— Lucas Shaw (@Lucas_Shaw) September 23, 2025According to Shaw, Jimmy Kimmel will address the controversy over his comments about Charlie Kirk and President Donald Trump at the top of the show on Tuesday, September 23:Kimmel will address the controversy at the top of his show tomorrow. I wouldn’t expect an apology or an escalationKimmel will address the controversy at the top of his show tomorrow. I wouldn't expect an apology or an escalation.— Lucas Shaw (@Lucas_Shaw) September 22, 2025Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs at 11:35 p.m. EST / 10:35 p.m. CST on ABC. At this time, the show will be broadcast live in about 77% of markets throughout the United States. Check your local station guide for information on whether the show will be available live in your area. Those unable to watch live can see clips of the show on YouTube and ABC or stream it on DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, or Fubo.Do you agree with Nexstar’s decision to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live!? Share your opinion with Inside the Magic in the comments!The post Jimmy Kimmel Taken off the Air AGAIN, Hours Before Scheduled Return on Tuesday appeared first on Inside the Magic.