The Jimmy Kimmel story keeps on taking new turns, but now it seems talks have begun about a potential resolution.
Variety reports that Kimmel’s business and legal representatives are “deep in discussions” with Disney and ABC in working toward reaching a compromise that would allow “Jimmy Kimmel Live” to return to ABC.
The host has made no public comment since the show was pulled from its regular slot on September 17th. Disney has only said that the program would be off its schedule ‘indefinitely.
The trade points out that there is no guarantee Kimmel and Disney will come to terms on an agreement to return to the airwaves. Kimmel is said to be “mindful of the effects” a shutdown would have on the many production staffers and vendors in Los Angeles who work on the show.
The current situation has led to people on both the left and right criticising Disney even as they’re divided in other ways over the actions taken. Money is at stake here, too, with around $51.1 million spent by advertisers on”Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in 2024.
All media companies involved, including Disney, Nexstar and Sinclair, are reportedly likely to have matters under government review in the near future, with FCC review and approval likely key to some of those matters.
Disney ex-CEO Michael Eisner gave a rare post on X asking “Where has all the leadership gone?”. Republican senator Ted Cruz called FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s remarks about potentially cancelling ABC licenses as something “right out of Goodfellas” (via DL).
Finally, and because it shares the same acronym, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) says that it has found itself on the receiving end of hundreds of complaints intended for America’s ABC about “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” being suspended with many complaints citing concerns about free speech and the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
