In the final moments of their interview at Screentime in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening, Bloomberg’s Lucas Show posed the question that has been on the minds of all of Hollywood—the million-dollar query directed at Jimmy Kimmel: Who will be the next CEO of Disney?
“I have a great deal of affection for Dana Walden, and I think she’s done an outstanding job,” Kimmel remarked, acknowledging that it would be “extremely unwise” for him to offer any definitive response. Given his status as one of the studio’s most prominent in-house talents, his caution was understandable. However, as the host of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, he has had extensive interactions with Disney’s executive ranks and even had a direct line to the top brass in recent days amid his controversial suspension.
He took this latter factor into account when voicing his support for Walden: “I believe what transpired over the past three weeks was incredibly unjust to my bosses at Disney. I don’t think anyone should ever be placed in such a position. It’s insane, and I hope that as Americans, we’ve drawn a very, very bold red line about what we will and will not tolerate, and I truly hope that’s the outcome of all this.”
Kimmel’s appearance at Screentime came two weeks after he returned to the airwaves on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! following a brief but monumental suspension that ignited a debate over free speech. The controversy began when Kimmel made comments on the September 15th edition of his show regarding Charlie Kirk’s assassin, stating, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to portray this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of their own and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
The moment went viral and sparked a backlash. Brendan Carr was among those who weighed in, with the FCC chair going so far as to threaten ABC’s affiliate licenses. Two days later, Disney bosses decided to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live!—a suspension that lasted less than a week amid widespread backlash from Hollywood’s creative community, which rallied to support the beloved host both online and in real life. His return, marked by a nearly 30-minute opening monologue, delivered record ratings as Kimmel expressed gratitude to his supporters, clarified his comments about Kirk, and defended free speech.
At Screentime, Kimmel delved into the behind-the-scenes negotiations that unfolded as his show went dark. “I hate to disappoint you, but the conversations were really productive. I mean, like, really productive,” Kimmel said of his chats with Walden and current CEO Bob Iger. “These are people I’ve known for a long time, and who I like very much. And we all wanted this to work out for the best.”
That said, the firestorm did disrupt their schedules. “First of all, I ruined Dana’s weekend. It was just nonstop phone calls all weekend. But I don’t think the outcome would have been as positive if I hadn’t talked to Dana as much as I did, because it helped me think everything through. And it helped me understand where everyone was coming from. I can sometimes be reactionary, I can sometimes be aggressive, and I can sometimes be unpleasant. And having those days to reflect was helpful.”
Kimmel had a lot to ponder on Wednesday night as Shaw grilled him on the suspension, his predictions for the future of late-night TV, the economics of his show, whether he plans to renew his contract next year, and his true thoughts on the Riyadh Comedy Festival. Highlights follow.
Kimmel Thought His Show Might Never Return
During his suspension, the veteran host feared his run might be over. “I’m a troublemaker by nature,” he recalled, thinking back to his early days hosting the show when the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA playoffs. “I said something to the effect of, ‘Well, I hope they don’t burn Detroit down.’ And everyone in Detroit was very unhappy. People were mad, and they pulled me off the air in Detroit. A guy who’s really been like a mentor to me at ABC, Alex Wallau, said to me, ‘You know, if we don’t have Detroit, you’re done with the show. The show’s over.’ I said, ‘Really?’ He said, ‘Yeah, you can’t go forward without a major market like that,’ which was news to me. So I went to Detroit and did the show for a week and kissed as much ass as I possibly could.”
Knowing the implications of losing one major market loomed large over the suspension that saw around 70 ABC affiliate stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group dropping the show. “Knowing that, I was like, well that’s it.” Kimmel added that he was not going to comply with the “list of demands” presented to him by those affiliates, which included an apology and a donation to Kirk’s Turning Point USA. “I said to my wife, ‘That’s it. It’s over.’”
As Kimmel Finalized His Comeback Monologue, He Focused on Its "Essence"
As the decision-makers deliberated over a blueprint for Kimmel's return to the airwaves, they didn't meticulously script every word he would utter on his first night back. Instead, they reached a consensus on the overarching "spirit" of his remarks. "Ultimately, I aimed to cover all bases if I could," Kimmel reflected. "It had to stem from within, be genuine, and lay bare all my feelings and experiences. I think it panned out as well as could be expected. I knew perfection was unattainable; there would always be detractors. But for me, the crux was being able to articulate my intended message."
Kimmel Dismisses Economic Factors as Cause for Stephen Colbert's Show Cancellation
In July, CBS dropped a bombshell announcement, pulling the plug on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert." Since then, speculation has run rampant about the underlying reasons. Kimmel, however, is skeptical of reports attributing the cancellation to Colbert's show hemorrhaging upwards of $40 million annually. "It just doesn't add up. I'm privy to the budgets of these shows. I know my earnings, Stephen's, and what the ad sales team rakes in. There are intangible values, like affiliate fees, that factor into the equation when discussing an hour of television every weeknight. I'm certain it's not $40 million. Is the show in the red? I'm not sure. Even if it is, I can't fathom it's by a substantial margin," Kimmel opined. When pressed for a rough estimate of production costs for a show like his, Kimmel confirmed, "$120 million." He added, "If we were bleeding money hand over fist, none of us would still be here. This ain't PBS, you know?"
Late-Night TV Can Endure, But at a Price
Amidst industry-wide apprehensions about the future of late-night television, Kimmel remains optimistic that these shows don't have to vanish entirely. "There are avenues," he asserted, pointing to more stringent production budgets. "The notion that these shows necessitate a $120 million price tag is absurd. They don't. Someone will crack the code... You can retain the same format, have a band, and all the trimmings, while slashing costs significantly. Sure, the host might not rake in as much, and the audience might shrink, but that's alright. I relish the idea of these programs, of people carving out a living with 200,000 viewers nightly, delving into niche topics that cater to fervent followers. I think it's fantastic. The prospect of a 16-year-old hosting their own TV show excites me."
Kimmel Would Have Declined Riyadh Comedy Festival Invitation
Recently, the Riyadh Comedy Festival ignited a firestorm of controversy, a topic that surfaced when Shaw queried Kimmel about Aziz Ansari's recent appearance on his show to promote his new film, "Good Fortune." Ansari was among the roughly 50 comedians who journeyed to Saudi Arabia, prompting Shaw to suggest that Kimmel's line of questioning hinted at his opposition to the event. "I wouldn't have attended, but I was eager to hear his rationale, and I found his reasons somewhat persuasive," Kimmel clarified. "Nothing is cut and dried. It's not a path I would take, but I comprehend the argument that shutting ourselves off from the world or isolating ourselves might not be beneficial." Kimmel continued, noting that while traveling, "many of us" prefer not to be held accountable for President Trump's rhetoric. "I'm fortunate enough to be recognizable, and people are aware of my stance, but it would be a different story if I were anonymous. The first thing I'd probably say upon entering a cab would be, 'I didn't vote for him, just so you know.' I think that perspective helps me grasp [their] stance better."
