This whole thing seems to have started with the FCC Chairman, Brendan Carr, threatening Disney and telling them to cancel Jimmy Kimmel. Nexstar then seems to have complied, again out of fear that their merger deal would get blocked.



It is worth pointing out that Carr was only recently appointed to FCC chair by the Trump administration and is one of the co-authors of Project 2025. So there you go.

 

tdotwriter wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

I wonder if both Colbert & Kimmel will one day wind up with their own YouTube shows, where they will hopefully be able to do and say whatever they want. That seems to be where shows like this are heading, with younger demos already watching the "highlights" the next day. 

That's pretty much the future, and where many of the most popular podcasters and digital content creators already are.

Those platforms will be next to be compromised. We're about to get big lesson in wealth consolidation. 

Celebrity Family Feud will air at 11:30pm tonight on ABC and yes CITY will simsub it locally.

‘Censoring you in real time’: suspension of Jimmy Kimmel show sparks shock and fears for free speech

On Wednesday evening, California governor Gavin Newsom called the firing of commentators and cancelling of shows “coordinated” and “dangerous.” He went on to say that the Republican party “does not believe in free speech. They are censoring you in real time.”

Democratic senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said “everybody across the political spectrum should be speaking out to stop what’s happening to Jimmy Kimmel.” His colleague Chris Murphy said it was likely the start of a campaign to “use the murder of Charlie Kirk as a pretext to use the power of the White House to wipe out Trump’s critics and his political opponents”, while Democratic politician Ro Khanna said “this is perhaps the first administration to make comedy illegal”.

Actor Ben Stiller said the decision to suspend Kimmel’s show “isn’t right”, while comedian and occasional Daily Show host Michael Kosta wrote: “This is a serious moment in American history. TV networks MUST push back. This is complete BS.”

Comedian and actress Wanda Sykes said in a video that Trump “didn’t end the Ukraine War or solve Gaza within his first week, but he did end freedom of speech within his first year. Hey, for those of you who pray, now’s the time to do it. Love you, Jimmy.”

Sharing recent footage of Fox commentator Brian Kilmeade calling for mentally ill and homeless people to be killed, comedian Paul Scheer wrote: “So let me get this straight. Kimmel is off the air for his comments about the politicization of an assassination but this is totally fine.” Kilmeade later apologised for his “extremely callous” remarks.

Comedian Mike Birbiglia wrote: “If you’re a comedian and you don’t call out the insanity of pulling Kimmel off the air – don’t bother spouting off about free speech anymore.”MSNBC political commentator Chris Hayes called it the most “straightforward attack on free speech from state actors I’ve ever seen in my life”.

Last edited by Hansa (September 17, 2025 11:29 pm)

Looks like City opted for a rerun of Hudson & Rex instead.

RadioActive wrote:

Looks like City opted for a rerun of Hudson & Rex instead.

I got suspicious when no simsub kicked in. When I put CITY on, I found out why.

RadioActive wrote:

mace wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

Looks like City opted for a rerun of Hudson & Rex instead.

I got suspicious when no simsub kicked in. When I put CITY on, I found out why.

Maybe not enough notice? Does City even have the rights to Celebrity Family Feud in Canada? (I think they do, but I'm not entirely sure.) Looks like it was a quick decision, either way. I'll be curious to see what both ABC and City do the rest of the week and beyond. 

As of 11pm tonight, the Rogers Ignite guide had Celebrity Family Feud listed for both WKBW and CITY. Thursday still shows Kimmel for now.

From Variety:

“Jimmy Kimmel Live” will be replaced Friday by a Charlie Kirk tribute special on Sinclair's ABC affiliate stations. The company is demanding Kimmel apologize to Kirk’s family and send “a meaningful personal donation” to them and Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded that advocates for conservative politics in high schools and colleges.

“Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,” Sinclair’s vice chairman Jason Smith said in a statement. “We believe broadcasters have a responsibility to educate and elevate respectful, constructive dialogue in our communities. We appreciate FCC Chairman Carr’s remarks today and this incident highlights the critical need for the FCC to take immediate regulatory action to address control held over local broadcasters by the big national networks.”

If Kimmel gives them any kind of a donation, I will lose all respect for him.
 

Last edited by TomTV (September 18, 2025 12:28 am)

ABC will replace Kimmel with another Family Feud episode on Thursday night, but after that, nothing is certain. 

Variety reports the network sent a memo to its affiliates that sidesteps the real issue and talks about the replacement programming after Feud.

"Beyond that, “formal guidance from Disney/ABC is forthcoming,” the memo stated. The memo noted that the affiliate board “remains engaged with ABC” on the roiling controversy.

A source close to the situation maintains that the network has not yet made a formal decision about the future of Kimmel’s show."

What City will do for the long term is even more uncertain. 

ABC Affiliate Stations Told ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Will Be Off at Least Through Thursday, Replaced by ‘Celebrity Family Feud’

 This has got to be one of the first times that the chair of the FCC has been so in your face about a threat to a network.  He is on a podcast complaining and threatening about Kimmel's show and a few hours later the network pulls the show indefinately. Disney is likely counting on the host to quit and then they can cancel the program.

Can you imagine the howling here if something like this happened with the CRTC?  I have always liked the fact that the CRTC tries very hard not to get involved with the actual content of programming, and not deciding what is proper for public consumption and what is not. 

Last night on CNN, one of the pundits (sorry never caught his name) mentioned if this situation with the OTA networks and the FCC doesn't get better, he could see the day when ABC, CBS and NBC get out of the broadcast business.  They don't need the hassle and interference from the FCC and it may not be worth the threats and cost.  Instead they will all become streamers only, and keep some cable channels.  

The controversy and dare I say virtue signaling around acceptable and unacceptable responses to Charlie Kirk's death reminds me of the Eulogy Song from the Australian satirical group "The Chaser".

Another question - what happens to ABC's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," which is hosted by Kimmel? Is that gone, too, or will they merely try to replace him? It might not be easy. Kimmel is listed as a co-Executive Producer of the show.

RadioActive wrote:

Another question - what happens to ABC's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," which is hosted by Kimmel? Is that gone, too, or will they merely try to replace him? It might not be easy. Kimmel is listed as a co-Executive Producer of the show.

They bring back Pamela Wallin, natch.

I'm wondering if this will have a chilling effect on the remaining late night shows. Colbert is already on the way out so if anything he may get bolder. Fallon has always been rather milquetoast and even though Trump has named him a target, I think the Tonight Show will stay out of trouble. It may even benefit from the lack of competition if it's left as the last network 11:30 show standing. It'll be interesting to see how SNL reacts and if they tone down their satire of Trump. 

He can sue. But good luck getting through the majority of judges who were appointed by you-know-who. I can't recall a single time the Supremes have ruled against him.