Jimmy Kimmel‘s Return Draws Massive Audience, Gains support From Joe Rogan
LOS ANGELES – Jimmy Kimmel’s return to television following a suspension sparked by controversial remarks garnered 6.2 million viewers, marking the program’s best performance in over a decade, according to ABC. The audience surge represents a more than fourfold increase compared to the show’s average ratings last season, with over 26 million additional views of Kimmel’s opening sequence on social media.
The ratings boost comes despite a continued boycott of the show by nearly 25% of the country’s local channels. The controversy originated after Kimmel criticized the American right for allegedly politicizing the death of ultra-conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. This prompted the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to denounce Kimmel’s behaviour and suggest potential license revocations for broadcasting channels.
On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Kimmel received public support from Joe Rogan, host of the world’s most listened-to podcast, The Joe Rogan Expérience. rogan defended Kimmel’s right to joke without government intervention, stating, “I really think that no government should intervene to dictate what a humorist may or cannot say.” Rogan, known for his libertarian leanings and promotion of conspiracy theories, added his voice to a growing debate over the limits of comedic expression.
The dispute began when Kimmel accused the “Trumpist camp” of exploiting Kirk’s death for political gain. Following the accusations, Nexstar and Sinclair, two groups representing dozens of local channels, announced they would refuse to air Kimmel’s program, leading ABC to temporarily suspend the show nationwide. Donald Trump celebrated the suspension as “big news for America” and called for similar action against other late-night show hosts.
