Late Night Under Fire: Stewart and Colbert Respond to Kimmel Suspension & “The Late Show” Hiatus
recent events in late-night television – the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show on ABC and the announced hiatus of Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show” – have sparked a debate over political pressure and free speech, drawing commentary from veteran comedians Jon Stewart and David Letterman.
The suspension of Kimmel followed comments made during his Monday night monologue regarding the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. ABC took Kimmel off the air Wednesday, a decision quickly criticized as capitulation to political pressure.The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is now facing potential action from Commissioner Nathan Carr, who suggested Disney, ABC’s parent company, either address Kimmel’s comments or face further scrutiny. Former President Donald Trump celebrated the suspension on his Truth Social platform, incorrectly stating the show was “cancelled.”
Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show” is currently on hiatus, with a scheduled return following the November 2024 presidential election. Kelly, a previous guest, last appeared on the show last year discussing border security and gun reform.
David Letterman,who previously hosted ”The Late Show” on CBS,described the situation as “misery” during a panel conversation moderated by The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg. He directly linked the events to political pressure, stating, “You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian – a criminal - management in the Oval office.” Letterman noted that during his three decades in late night, he never experienced government interference in his comedic critiques of presidents.
While Kimmel has not publicly commented on his show’s suspension,actress Jean Smart,who plays a fictional late-night host on the HBO Max series “Hacks,” voiced strong support for Kimmel on Instagram,stating his comments were “FREE speech,not hate speech.” She also expressed dismay over Kirk’s death, irrespective of political affiliation, and questioned the direction of the contry.