Jimmy Kimmel’s highly anticipated return to Jimmy Kimmel Live! has reignited late-night television, pulling in 6.26 million viewers — his biggest audience in more than a decade — despite being blacked out in nearly a quarter of U.S. households.
According to early Nielsen data, the September 23 broadcast marked Kimmel’s strongest regularly scheduled episode since the early 2010s. The surge came even as the show was pre-empted on ABC affiliates owned by Sinclair and Nexstar, which collectively reach about 25 percent of American TV homes.
What made the comeback even more remarkable was its digital aftershock. Kimmel’s monologue — a sharp, self-aware reflection on his suspension and the state of late-night TV — exploded online, racking up more than 26 million views across YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok within days.
The viral response underscored a modern media paradox: the more restricted access becomes, the higher the demand. As one entertainment analyst noted, “Tell people they can’t watch something, and they’ll move mountains to find it.”
For ABC, Kimmel’s strong rebound is a rare late-night victory at a time when traditional TV audiences are shrinking. For Kimmel, it’s proof that after two decades on air, his mix of humor, candor, and controversy still has undeniable pull — both on screen and online.
