Late night show legend David Letterman opens up about the Jimmy Kimmel show cancellation

David Letterman, the long-standing late-night host, voiced his opinion this week following a massive shake-up in late-night television. ABC has taken Jimmy Kimmel's show: Jimmy Kimmel Live! off air with no definite date of being back, after Jimmy Kimmel was subject to criticism over his jokes about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Letterman, who has contributed to shaping the modern late-night comedy, explained his views in his typical simplistic manner. He argued in favor of the right of comedians to make remarks about social issues and also said that companies and even politicians tend to put pressure on them at times to be less honest and less daring with their comedy.

What did David Letterman say about Jimmy Kimmel Live!’s cancellation

Recently, David Letterman has come out to criticize ABC when they canceled Jimmy Kimmel's show, saying that it is indicative that the network had succumbed to the pressure.

At the The Atlantic Festival 2025 in New York, David Letterman addressed the issue and stated:

“I feel bad about this….We see where this is all going, correct? It’s managed media. And it’s no good. It’s silly. It’s ridiculous. And you can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office. That’s just not how this works.”

Letterman continued:

“In the world of somebody who is an authoritarian, maybe a dictatorship, sooner or later, everyone is going to be touched….The institution of the president of the United States ought to be bigger than a guy doing a talk show.”

Now what?

The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel is not affecting only one host or a particular network. Performers, industry leaders, and unions believe the ruling will frighten other comedians into avoiding the sharp political humor, when that type of funny is needed the most.

David Letterman also ensured fans and audiences at the 2025 Atlantic Festival in NYC that Kimmel is going to be "fine."

“He’s up in bed, taking nourishment. He’s going to be fine."

The suspension received criticism by many of Jimmy Kimmel's peers who believed that taking Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air was a risky step that could lead to networks censoring content rather than stand by it. Other politicians applauded the move, but many free-speech activists cautioned that it would result in self-censorship and uniform, bland programming.

Planning shows just became even more difficult among producers of late-night shows. Now they will be forced to find a balance between station partners, government regulations, advertisers and viewer responses, and continue to make the humor bold and pertinent simultaneously.

Creators may respond differently: some of them may take their comedy a step further, some may switch to streaming services where the restrictions are less, and some may also be more cautious with less political content. Observers might find the late-night comedy being less competitive or they might observe fresh methods of resistance.

The show biz, politics, and business interest have always been intertwined in late-night television shows. With such a combination moving too far in one direction or another, everyone, including hosts and audiences, experiences the effect. The industry consequences will be felt over the next few weeks.

Trending

For more such insights on Jimmy Kimmel, keep following Soap Central.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback