Late-night TV rallied around Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday night as hosts across the board expressed support for their suspended colleague. It was also an opportunity for them to reflect on the future of late-night as corporate politics and government intervention play an increasingly greater role in what makes it to air. On Late Night, Seth Meyers shared how he'll approach things going forward.
ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the air on Wednesday following pressure from the FCC and broadcast groups Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcasting. Kimmel's monologue from the previous night drew attention for how he addressed the Charlie Kirk murder, with critics arguing he made light of the incident or attempted to shift blame to conservatives.
The speed in which ABC dropped Kimmel after more than 20 years on the air created a controversy that extended well beyond the world of late-night. Still, it raised questions about the future of the format as Kimmel joined Stephen Colbert as hosts who are essentially out of a job.
Meyers shared his thoughts on Thursday, indicating the Late Night team is "going to keep doing our show the way we’ve always done it with enthusiasm and integrity.” Meyers was called out by name in a post from President Donald Trump urging NBC to follow ABC's example and ditch Meyers and Jimmy Fallon.
Despite the warning, Meyers has no intention of changing what he does every night. That includes some of the sharpest takedowns of Trump and his administration. But such political commentary now seems to put a late-night show at risk of cancellation. However, Meyers is banking on his freedom of speech to protect Late Night, even if the same wasn't true for Jimmy Kimmel.
“It is a privilege and an honor to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend, in the same way that it’s a privilege and honor to do this show every night," Meyers told his audience. "I wake up every day and I count my blessings that I live in a country that at least purports to value freedom of speech.”
Whereas Kimmel played coy about his late-night TV future prior to the suspension, Meyers has made it clear he wants to stick around as long as possible. Nobody would blame the Late Night host if he changed his mind, given what has happened to his colleagues. But Meyers' response on Thursday night made it clear that he's going to keep doing things the same way he's always done them. If that means NBC wants to sever ties, then at least Meyers can say he went out on his own terms ... something that is becoming increasingly rare among late-night hosts.