ABC is moving swiftly in the aftermath of its decision to take Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air indefinitely. The network has already announced plans to replace the long-running late-night TV show with a much different program.
ABC made the surprise announcement on Wednesday night that it would preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! starting immediately, with no end date in sight. It came in response to Kimmel's monologue discussing Charlie Kirk's murder, which drew criticism from the FCC.
Wednesday's episode of Kimmel was replaced by Celebrity Family Feud. According to Variety, an ABC memo sent to more than 150 affiliate stations indicated the game show will also air on Thursday night during Jimmy Kimmel's normal 11:35 p.m. time slot.
ABC’s move to slide Celebrity Family Feud into Jimmy Kimmel’s time slot could be more than just a temporary fix. The decision raises the question of whether the network is quietly testing the waters for a permanent shift away from traditional late-night shows. With streaming and social media increasingly taking viewership from TV, ABC might see more value in a reliable game show format that also avoids the growing pitfalls of topical humor and political commentary.
Game shows like Family Feud come with the added advantage of being almost entirely apolitical. In an era where late-night monologues can spark controversies that go beyond entertainment, ABC may be drawn to the safety of a format that entertains without alienating. While Kimmel thrived on topical commentary and mocking political figures, Steve Harvey’s Family Feud offers the kind of safe, universal humor that appeals to a broad audience and ensures ABC won't have to look over its shoulder at the FCC.
The memo did not clarify if Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return to the air on Friday, September 19. However, that seems highly unlikely. Kimmel usually doesn't air a new episode on Friday nights under normal circumstances. And if ABC was willing to sideline its late-night show so quickly, it probably won't turn around and put it back on the air after just two days.
Meanwhile, the Sinclair Broadcast Group announced its own plan to replace Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The company owns the largest collection of ABC affiliates in the country, and it quickly followed station group Nexstar's lead in pulling the late-night show from its channels.
A press release from Sinclair indicated it will air a tribute to Charlie Kirk during Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s time slot on Friday night. The company also stipulated that an apology from Kimmel and a personal donation to the Kirk family would be required before it considered bringing Jimmy Kimmel Live! back online.