Late-night television faced a major shake-up this week after ABC abruptly pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its schedule. The decision followed intense backlash to comments Jimmy Kimmel made during his September 15, 2025, monologue about the recent shooting of activist Charlie Kirk. By September 17, the network announced the show would be “pre-empted indefinitely,” replacing it with reruns of Celebrity Family Feud hosted by Steve Harvey.
The move sparked widespread reaction across the industry. ABC affiliates were sent an urgent memo addressing the controversy, while major broadcast partners took strong action. Nexstar Media Group, the country’s largest local broadcaster, announced it would no longer air the show on its ABC stations. Soon after, Sinclair Broadcast Group followed suit and announced that it would replace Kimmel’s show with a special tribute program.
The timing was striking, coming just days after Hollywood celebrated the 77th Emmy Awards. What began as a week of glitz and celebration quickly shifted into crisis for ABC and its late-night lineup. Kimmel, who has been a network fixture since 2003, was seen visiting his attorney’s office in Los Angeles as speculation grew about his future.
As the network weighs its next steps, Steve Harvey’s Celebrity Family Feud will temporarily occupy the time slot. Whether Kimmel returns to late-night or ABC moves forward with a permanent replacement remains uncertain, leaving both the entertainment industry and viewers waiting for answers.
