Jimmy Kimmel’s Comeback Draws Big Ratings Despite Affiliate Blackouts as CBS Mornings Reacts
Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil weigh in on the numbers as late-night shifts collide with distribution challenges and political debate
Jimmy Kimmel's late-night return drew 6.3 million broadcast viewers and roughly 26 million views across social platforms, a surge that more than triples his recent average. The ratings spike came even as Disney-ABC affiliates continued to blackout the show in a significant share of markets, underscoring distribution's role in late-night reach.
On Friday's CBS Mornings, Gayle King appeared momentarily stunned as co-host Tony Dokoupil warned that Kimmel’s viral comeback could be “bad business” if it alienated “half the country.” Dokoupil cut in, noting that “the 26 million [views] on social media, most of that money doesn't go to ABC.” He added, “And the business is still bad, particularly if you're offending half the country, the ones that voted for the guy he doesn’t like. So, here we are. Good luck, late night!” The exchange captured the ongoing tension between a high-visibility revival and the political sensitivity surrounding late-night hosts.
The moment unfolded as Disney moved to bring back “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday, six days after a suspension prompted by his remarks about the suspect in conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s case. Kimmel acknowledged the hiatus, telling viewers it was never his intention to make light of the murder of a young man, and he opened with a montage of news clips about the suspension. He also leaned into the controversy in the monologue that followed, joking that the show would keep moving — including an upcoming run from Brooklyn — so the FCC “can’t get us.”
The ratings rebound did not erase distribution fissures. Nexstar said its ABC stations would continue to preempt Kimmel, and Sinclair Broadcast Group indicated it would replace the late-night program with news programming on its ABC affiliates. As King reminded viewers on CBS Mornings, the show remained “blacked out in 23% of the US households” due to those affiliate decisions, illustrating how the audience reach for a high-profile return can be constrained by distribution maps.
Kimmel’s own numbers painted a complementary picture of reach. He cited more than 21.5 million YouTube views and upward of 26 million views across platforms on his comeback monologue, underscoring the hybrid nature of late-night audiences in the digital era. The affair attracted attention beyond the studio as former President Donald Trump weighed in repeatedly, cheering the suspension at times and then renewing attacks after the comeback, reflecting how political feedback loops continue to shape late-night narratives.
The CBS Mornings discussion also touched on broader industry dynamics. Dokoupil has previously defended CBS executives amid shifts in the network’s programming slate, and the exchange this week highlighted ongoing debates about how late-night hosts balance provocative commentary with audience broadness in a media landscape marked by consolidation and content-sharing across platforms. King’s exchange with Dokoupil served as a snapshot of the moment: a show anchored in entertainment yet deeply entwined with politics, ratings, and the corporate machinery behind access to viewers.
As the week progressed, Kimmel’s return—whether viewed live or on social platforms—was measured not only by traditional ratings but by the scale of online engagement and the willingness of affiliates to carry the program. The episode’s ripple effects extended into the political sphere, with Trump — who has repeatedly weighed in during the flap — continuing to comment on the situation and its implications for late-night discourse.
The evolving landscape of late-night television continues to test the balance between sharp political wit and the realities of distribution and audience fragmentation. Kimmel’s comeback, amplified by social video and cross-platform chatter, demonstrated that a high-profile return can energize conversations and drive sizable engagement even as a sizeable portion of the traditional TV audience remains out of reach due to affiliate blackouts. In that sense, the episode functioned as a case study in how modern late-night hinges on both the content itself and the evolving channels through which audiences access it.
Ultimately, the episode underscored a culture shift in entertainment: marquee moments in late-night can generate outsized digital impressions and real-time discussion even when the conventional broadcast footprint is deliberately narrowed by affiliate choices. For viewers, the convergence of a ratings spike, social-media momentum, and a disciplined distribution strategy provided a vivid snapshot of how culture and entertainment are navigating a transformed media ecosystem.