Jimmy Kimmel Tears Up in Return to Late Night

Following a week-long suspension due to controversial comments made on the show, *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* returned to television. However, two local TV station groups that had previously threatened to cancel the show continued to do so, even after Disney and ABC decided to reinstate Kimmel on September 23rd.

So, on Tuesday’s show, I was really glad Jimmy Kimmel finally addressed all the controversy that had been going around about his monologue. He explained that it was *never* his intention to make a joke out of a young man’s death, and he genuinely said there wasn’t anything funny about it at all. It felt like a necessary clarification, honestly.

Look, I really didn’t mean to imply any group was responsible for what happened – it was one seriously troubled person acting alone. I was trying to make that clear, but I can see how it came across wrong, especially given the timing. If I were on the other side, I’d probably feel the same way. I have a lot of loved ones with different political views, and that’s okay. Honestly, that guy who attacked Charlie Kirk doesn’t speak for anyone; he was just deeply disturbed and thought violence was the answer, which it absolutely isn’t.

Jimmy Kimmel, visibly emotional while speaking, expressed his disagreement with Disney’s initial decision to suspend his show. He also thanked them for bringing it back, even though he acknowledged it could create problems for them. Regarding Donald Trump’s reaction to his suspension, Kimmel stated that the President seems to enjoy people losing their jobs simply because they made fun of him.

Kimmel stated that threatening to silence a comedian due to the government’s disapproval is a violation of American principles.

Jimmy Kimmel also commended Erika Kirk, the wife of the late Charlie Kirk, for forgiving the man accused of shooting her husband. Kimmel noted this act of forgiveness as a powerful example, saying, “If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, as I do, there it was.”

Well, things got pretty heated for Jimmy Kimmel last week. After a controversial joke on his show about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, two major TV station groups, Nexstar and Sinclair, decided to pull *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* from their lineups. It all started when the head of the Federal Communications Commission publicly suggested these stations should reconsider airing the show because of Kimmel’s comments. Basically, the joke caused enough of an uproar that some stations felt they needed to take a stand and drop the show altogether.

Disney explained that they paused production of Jimmy Kimmel’s show last week to de-escalate a sensitive situation following critical comments. After discussions with Kimmel over the past few days, they’ve decided to resume broadcasting on Tuesday, believing the conversations were productive and led to a resolution.

Both Nexstar and Sinclair refused to broadcast Jimmy Kimmel’s show when it returned. Nexstar explained they still believe removing the show was the right move until they’re sure everyone involved will promote respectful and productive conversations in their local communities. Sinclair stated they’re using the time slot for news programs, but are still talking with ABC about the possibility of bringing the show back in the future.

You can watch Kimmel’s opening monologue below.

The Best Summer Movies of 2025

10. Kpop Demon Hunters

This movie has a brilliantly creative idea: a K-pop girl group secretly fights demons, and their biggest challenge yet comes in the form of a demonic boy band! *Kpop Demon Hunters* is a colorful, fun movie with surprisingly catchy music. My daughters are obsessed, constantly asking how they can become demon-hunting K-pop stars, and honestly, after watching it, I kind of want to join them!

9. The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Okay, let me tell you about Marvel’s new *Fantastic Four* movie, *First Steps*. Honestly, it’s a huge leap forward from the previous four tries – and believe me, those were rough. It’s hard *not* to be better when the originals ranged from just okay to truly terrible! *First Steps* really shines with its stunning visuals and a fantastic villain – Galactus is genuinely imposing and his motivation, while simple (he’s a lonely space god with a big appetite!), works. While the Fantastic Four themselves don’t completely blow you away, this movie feels like a really solid starting point for them within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s a promising first step, and I’m excited to see where they go next.

8. Elio

Pixar’s newest film tells the charming story of an orphaned boy named Yonas Kibreab who discovers a home with a group of aliens. He’s accidentally thought to be Earth’s ambassador and quickly gets involved in high-stakes talks with a terrifying galactic conqueror, voiced by Brad Garrett. Like many Pixar movies, it might resonate more with adults than kids, offering a heartwarming message about fatherhood and the importance of self-discovery. And Elio’s alien friend, Glordon (Remy Edgerly), is definitely the most lovable and memorable sidekick we’ve seen on screen this summer.

7. Ballerina

To put it simply, the first *John Wick* spinoff, *Ballerina*, exceeded all expectations. After a long and troubled production, I wasn’t expecting much. The first half of the movie felt slow and grim, just as I’d anticipated. But around the one-hour mark, the film completely changes gears. The rest of *Ballerina* is a thrilling ride, with at least three action sequences that are as inventive, exciting, and darkly funny as anything in the *John Wick* series. What’s more, *Ballerina* actually feels like a natural extension of the larger *John Wick* universe. It expands the world and even features a brief but important appearance by John Wick himself (Keanu Reeves).

6. F1

When someone calls a movie “old-fashioned,” it’s usually not a good thing. It suggests the film feels dated and slow. But Joseph Kosinski’s *F1* is delightfully old-fashioned – it’s a loving tribute to the exciting, large-scale blockbusters of the 80s and 90s. These films prioritized impressive visuals and charismatic stars like Brad Pitt, Kerry Condon, and Javier Bardem, rather than relying on existing franchises. While *F1* isn’t perfect, it’s certainly not slow! The story is somewhat predictable, but honestly, a movie about Formula One racing should have *some* familiar elements, right?

5. Highest 2 Lowest

After more than ten years, director Spike Lee and actor Denzel Washington team up again in *Highest 2 Lowest*, a crime story inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s classic film *High and Low*. The film centers on a music executive (Washington) who faces a difficult decision: pay a huge ransom for the kidnapped son of his employee – mistakenly taken instead of his own child by a clever criminal (A$AP Rocky) – or risk losing everything. Featuring a thrilling subway chase that rivals the one in *The French Connection*, and intense conversations between Washington and Rocky, *Highest 2 Lowest* feels like a classic film from two of America’s most important filmmakers.

4. 28 Years Later

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, the team behind the groundbreaking zombie film *28 Days Later*, return to the genre with *28 Years Later*. But don’t expect a simple rehash – this isn’t just a quick cash-in. While the film delivers the expected gore and inventive, low-budget action, it’s also surprisingly deep and thought-provoking. In fact, it’s often quite bleak, culminating in an ending that’s intentionally unsettling. This isn’t a setup for another sequel, but rather a reflection of how life often unfolds in disappointing ways.

3. Weapons

If Zach Cregger asks you to come down to his basement, just say no. He clearly has a thing for dark, creepy spaces, and his new movie, *Weapons*, is no exception. Following up on his 2022 hit *Barbarian*, *Weapons* unfolds a complex mystery in a quiet Pennsylvania suburb when an entire class of 17 elementary school students suddenly goes missing. The story jumps between different characters – the teacher (Julia Garner), a father of one of the kids (Josh Brolin), a troubled police officer (Alden Ehrenreich), and others – as they try to uncover what happened. *Weapons* is both deeply unsettling and surprisingly funny, creating a unique horror experience. Think of it as a scary, comedic thriller in the style of *Pulp Fiction* – a movie we didn’t know we were waiting for.

2. Superman

Comparing any DC film to Richard Donner’s *Superman* feels sacrilegious to many. However, James Gunn’s *Superman* delivers a superior Lex Luthor – brilliantly portrayed by Nicholas Hoult as incredibly self-centered and easily offended – and a fantastic supporting cast. Standouts include Edi Gathegi as the aptly named Mr. Terrific and Krypto, Superman’s scene-stealing, mischievous superdog.

The film also features a wonderfully relatable and vulnerable Superman, charmingly played by David Corenswet, making him easy to root for. It’s an enjoyable, thrilling, and romantic movie that even manages to include some thoughtful social commentary. This film sets a new high bar for future DC movies, which is exciting because it’s intended to be the first in a whole series of interconnected stories.

1. The Naked Gun

If you need a good laugh, check out the 2025 film *The Naked Gun*. It’s 85 minutes of constant comedy, packed with visual gags, silly puns, and outrageous humor, all while cleverly poking fun at pop culture. It’s one of the best franchise revivals of recent years – and it’s no surprise it’s doing well in theaters, as you’ll likely want to see it more than once to catch all the jokes.

Liam Neeson stars as Frank Drebin Jr., the son of the original film’s iconic, clumsy detective. Like his father, Drebin is a tough investigator who finds himself solving a case involving a villainous businessman (Danny Huston). Throughout the film, he shares hilarious internal thoughts, including a particularly memorable observation about his love interest (Pamela Anderson) and her impressive figure. *The Naked Gun* proves that spoof comedies – and comedies in theaters in general – still have a lot to offer.

2025-09-24 07:27