Overview
- Jimmy Kimmel, performing at Disney’s annual upfront for advertisers, joked that his time on ABC has cost the company “billions.”
- Kimmel said Jimmy Kimmel Live! is up 25% among adults 18 to 49, crediting political fights for bringing in more young viewers.
- Recent backlash centered on a joke about Melania Trump, after which the President urged ABC to fire Kimmel and the host said the line was about the couple’s age gap.
- The show previously faced penalties, including a brief September 2025 suspension and Nexstar replacing it in some ABC-affiliated markets.
- The “billions” figure was part of a comedy bit, and coverage noted reruns this week as advertisers weigh how local preemptions can limit where national buys actually air.