Late-night television was thrown into chaos this week after ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be removed from its schedule indefinitely. The shocking move followed Kimmel’s controversial September 15 monologue, which sparked heavy backlash across the industry.
By September 17, ABC confirmed the show would be “pre-empted indefinitely,” replacing it with Steve Harvey’s Celebrity Family Feud reruns in the coveted late-night slot. An urgent memo was issued to affiliates, and major broadcasting partners quickly followed.
Nexstar Media Group, the nation’s largest local broadcaster, announced it would no longer air Kimmel’s program on its ABC stations. Soon after, Sinclair Broadcast Group confirmed it was pulling the show as well, opting instead to broadcast a tribute program.
The timing made headlines worldwide, as the announcement came just days after the 77th Emmy Awards had Hollywood celebrating. What started as a week of glitz and glamour quickly spiraled into one of the biggest network crises in years.
Kimmel, who has hosted since 2003, was spotted meeting with his legal team in Los Angeles, fueling speculation about his next move. For now, Steve Harvey fills the gap, but whether Kimmel will return or a permanent replacement will be named remains uncertain.
One thing is clear: the fate of late-night TV at ABC has never been more in question.