NEWS/CULTURE/TELEVISION

De Niro Roasts on Kimmel’s Show

Don’t miss this important bit

Jimmy Kimmel delivers his monologue. Screenshot credit ABC/Disney

Broadcast television had an unprecedented event last night: Over 6.2 million viewers watched Jimmy Kimmel Live. Unfortunately, 20 percent of viewers were not able to see the show. Television stations in Nashville, New Orleans, Portland, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, and other Sinclair Inc. locations refused to air the show in a boycott of Jimmy Kimmel.

The show, which has been on for 23 years, was canceled by ABC last week. Backlash from viewers, journalists and celebrities caused an uproar over the governmental overreach of curtailing free speech of a comedian. Financially, Disney took a hard hit when it lost over 4 billion dollars in cancelations of their streaming services and vacation properties.

Due to the uproar and financial losses, ABC acquiesced and brought the Jimmy Kimmel Live show back on the air, creating a network event like no other. Viewers watched the show on broadcast TV at once, and this shared experience has been the talk of the media and viewers today.

You may have seen my article on Kimmel’s monologue, which was moving and poignant. His honesty about what was happening behind the scenes raised emotions.