I didn’t write about Jimmy Kimmel last Friday, but some people told me the photo illustrating my article looked a lot like Jimmy Kimmel. The picture above is the same photo from past week. I don’t think it looks even slightly like Jimmy Kimmel.
But our editor normally approves the photos used in the Daily Post, so I recommend complaining to him, not me.
My article, last week, wasn’t intended to be about anyone in particular, because I have a growing sense that journalists — and especially humor writers — probably ought to lay off the political satire, and stick to harmless subjects like penguins, and bananas.
I have written about penguins previously, and also about bananas, and I can certainly do it again, if that’s what’s called for.
But this is the first time I’ve taken on the subject of Jimmy Kimmel. Because it seems to be called for.
ABC announced on September 17, that the show Mr. Kimmel has been hosting since 2003, namely “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, had been “suspended indefinitely”. Obviously, they could have announced that they were “replacing” Mr. Kimmel with a different host, but that would have been problematic, considering the name of the show.
From a PBS news story:
ABC will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show in the wake of criticism over his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, officials with the network said Monday.
“We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,” said a statement from the network.
So, like, tonight? Already, Jimmy is back?
That must be the shortest “suspended indefinitely” in the history of TV shows.
We note that this story appeared on PBS, which has its own issues going on. Similar issues, perhaps. With what some are calling ‘cancel culture’. So I imagine PBS was gloating a bit, as they posted the story of Jimmy Kimmel’s return.
I would be gloating, too, if I were PBS. Or if I were anyone concerned about freedom of speech.
In fact, I am, myself, anyone concerned about freedom of speech. Not concerned enough to make fun of powerful political figures maybe, but at least politely perturbed. Not like I’m going to make a big deal about it, but just saying, in my small quiet way: Hey, have you ever noticed that we have a Constitution?
I think we still have one. But I could be convinced otherwise.
Reportedly, 400 movie stars, artists, entertainers and otherwise notable people signed an open letter addressed to ABC and its owner, Disney, describing the suspension as a government attack on freedom of speech.
You can read the letter here.
I’ve sort of been out of the loop, entertainment-wise, so I will readily admit I didn’t recognize most of the names. But I did notice that Al Yankovic was among them. If I were a government, I would not want to piss off Al Yankovic.
And if I were Disney, and depended upon movie stars and entertainers and artists to fuel my corporate profits, I would have to think twice about my loyalty. Should I try to make Donald Trump happy, or should I try to make Meryl Streep happy?
Tough call.
And possibly an expensive call.
All of which makes me appreciate the fact that I write for a small-town news website, that can fly under the political radar — at least, for the time being. I mean, we fully understand that the federal government could shut down the entire Daily Post with a simple Executive Order, and we also understand that there’s zero chance that 400 movie stars plus the ACLU would come to my rescue.
That said, I’m glad that Jimmy Kimmel will be back on the air tonight, distracting the powers-that-be, so the rest of us can be left alone.
At least, for time being.
Underrated writer Louis Cannon grew up in the vast American West, although his ex-wife, given the slightest opportunity, will deny that he ever grew up at all. You can read more stories on his Substack account.