Kimmel Received ABC's Cancellation Call As Audience Waited

With his audience settled in and ready for the show, Jimmy Kimmel was notified by ABC that his show was being canceled.

On 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' Kimmel recounted the unexpected call that led to his show being pulled from the air.

Disney, ABC's parent company, decided to suspend 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on September 17 following criticisms from FCC chair Brendan Carr regarding Kimmel's statements on Charlie Kirk's death.

Usually taping at 4:30 p.m., Kimmel was informed by ABC at 3:00 p.m. about their decision.

"I took a call from ABC execs in the bathroom, where they expressed concerns about the evening's content," explained Kimmel.

He revealed that the network suggested the wisest course would be to halt the show.

"At that moment, I genuinely believed I'd never return on air," admitted Kimmel.

Audience Reaction and Show Continuation

Kimmel mentioned to Colbert that while this was happening, his audience was completely set up in the studio.

Interrupting, Colbert expressed surprise at the audience's presence, saying, "They were all there, already settled in."

Kimmel confirmed, "Yes, they were there, eagerly anticipating the show."

Despite sending the audience home, Kimmel and his crew completed the taping that day.

Show's Return and Colbert Episode

Due to overwhelming backlash, Disney opted to bring 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' back on September 23, just a week after its suspension.

In an interesting twist, Colbert was a guest on Kimmel's show in an episode aired the following Tuesday. The two hosts exchanged anecdotes about their shows’ cancellations.

Interestingly, CBS had already revealed plans to discontinue Colbert's show for financial reasons starting in May 2026.

Neither Kimmel's nor Colbert's representatives responded to inquiries from Business Insider.