Jimmy Kimmel’s return to ABC draws 6.2M viewers

Jimmy Kimmel Live! made a strong comeback Tuesday, attracting 6.2 million viewers after a six-day suspension by Disney’s ABC over his remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

The number is remarkable, as roughly 25% of ABC affiliates were unable to air the show. Last season, the program averaged just over 1 million viewers per episode.

Nexstar and Sinclair, two major broadcast groups covering more than 60 ABC stations, continue to preempt the show.

Nexstar said it is evaluating the status of Kimmel’s show while engaging with Disney to ensure the program reflects and respects community interests.

Fans turned to YouTube, where Kimmel’s return monologue garnered over 17 million views within 24 hours. The next few weeks will reveal if the strong numbers influence ABC affiliates’ decisions.