What time will Jimmy Kimmel Live! return tonight? Release details explored

Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be back on ABC this week, with the 57-year-old host returning to the show. Earlier, he was suspended following his comments after the conservative commentator Charlie Kirk's death.

Kimmel has been the host of this late-night show since 2003. Throughout its 20+ year run, the show has won three Primetime Emmy Awards and a Critics' Choice Award. However, Kimmel's recent comments led to a backlash from conservative outlets and personalities. It was deemed to be the reason behind his suspension.

Since then, many popular figures, including Hollywood celebrities and politicians, have spoken in support of Kimmel's favor. Over 400 celebrities signed a letter by the ACLU addressing the urgent matter in support of him and free speech. There were also reports of people boycotting ABC and Disney since the updates about the show's cancellation.

After the outpouring of support for the host, Jimmy Kimmel Live! will finally return tonight, September 23, 2025, on ABC, according to a report from USA Today. It will begin at 11:35 p.m. ET/10:35 p.m. CT.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! release details revealed

Jimmy Kimmel Live! will air on ABC and some of its affiliates, as it returns on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. It will also be available to stream on Hulu, following its ABC premiere. The decision comes into effect after a statement issued by Disney on September 22. According to USA Today, it reads:

“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”

However, there is a caveat to the return of the show. According to the latest report from Variety on September 23, Nexstar Media will continue to preempt the show. In a statement shared with the outlet, their representative said:

“We made a decision last week to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ following what ABC referred to as Mr. Kimmel’s ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments at a critical time in our national discourse. We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”

Nexstar also added:

“In the meantime, we note that ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ will be available nationwide on multiple Disney-owned streaming products, while our stations will focus on continuing to produce local news and other programming relevant to their respective markets.”

With this decision, they also join Sinclair in their decision to continue preempting the show. In a statement shared with Variety, their representative said:

“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!‘ across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”

Hence, despite the show's return, it may not be made available by all the affiliates of ABC. USA Today also notes that Kimmel may not have returned to the show for good, as his contract ends in May 2026.

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Also Read: “It’s wrong and…”: Conan O’Brien opens up about the Jimmy Kimmel Live!’s cancelation

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