THUNDER BAY — ENTERTAINMENT — ABC has indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! following Kimmel’s monologue comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk—a move that followed Nexstar Media Group telling its 23 ABC affiliates to pull the program starting Wednesday.
ABC confirmed the show is off the air “for the foreseeable future.”
Nexstar called Kimmel’s remarks “offensive and insensitive,” saying they would not air the show in their ABC markets; shortly after, ABC moved to suspend the program network-wide.
Kimmel has not publicly commented.
The fallout comes amid continuing coverage of Kirk’s fatal shooting in Utah and intense online reaction across the political spectrum.
Also in Late Night: Colbert’s Show Is Ending (and the Network Explains Why)
CBS announced this summer it will end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and retire the franchise in May 2026, calling it a financial decision in a tough late-night market. Colbert has continued taping; the finale is planned for the end of the 2025–26 season.
Colbert addressed the news with humour around the Emmys this week, as trade press and fans debated whether finances alone drove the call. CBS maintains the move is not related to content or ratings.
Why This Matters to Viewers (and Creators) in Northwestern Ontario
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Consolidation + costs: Networks are trimming expensive daily shows as ad dollars shift online. That means fewer slots for emerging comedians and musical acts breaking through late night.
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Politics in prime time: The Kimmel suspension underlines how affiliate pressure can shape national programming when commentary turns sharply political.
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Streaming shift: Expect more late-night talent to pivot to weekly formats, streaming, or podcast video, changing how Canadian audiences discover clips the next morning.
