Stephen Colbert Celebrates Jimmy Kimmel’s Return: “Our Long National Late-Nightmare Is Over”

Stephen Colbert could not hide his excitement after learning that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will officially return to ABC. Disney’s announcement came just hours before Colbert taped Monday night’s episode of The Late Show, turning the show’s opening monologue into a moment filled with relief and joy.

“We do about 160 of these shows a year, and whenever I get the chance, it’s always nice to start with good news,” Colbert told the audience. “Just a few hours before we taped tonight’s broadcast, we got word that our ‘long national late-nightmare’ is over — Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be back on the air tomorrow night. This is wonderful news for my dear friend Jimmy and his amazing team.”

Colbert then added a signature dose of humor by holding up the Emmy he had just won for Outstanding Talk Show:
“I’m so happy for them. And now that Jimmy’s not being canceled, I can finally enjoy this again!” He joked further, “Once again, I am the only martyr in late night — unless, of course, CBS has some announcement to make?”

The Decision to Suspend Kimmel

Kimmel’s sudden suspension last week shocked both the entertainment industry and his fans. The decision came after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr publicly pressured Disney to pull Kimmel from the air. In a far-right podcast appearance, Carr warned that the FCC had “remedies we can look at” and threatened: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”

Sources inside ABC and Disney reportedly said several executives believed Kimmel hadn’t crossed any serious lines. Still, the looming threat of retaliation from the Trump administration prompted a series of emergency meetings. “They were freaking out all day,” one ABC insider said. Colbert later quipped that the entire ordeal “just proves Disney is No. 1 in streaming.”

Colbert Defends His Friend

In his September 18 monologue, Colbert forcefully condemned the decision, calling it “blatant censorship.” He told viewers:
“Carr was quick to reassure everyone by posting that this was necessary so broadcasters could push back on programming they felt violated ‘community values.’ Well, you know what my community values are, buster? Freedom of speech.”

That same episode featured a parody of Beauty and the Beast’s “Be Our Guest,” with animated characters singing satirical lines warning Disney employees to “shut your trap” and “don’t make fun of Donny T.” The musical number quickly went viral, becoming a symbolic rallying cry for free speech among late-night hosts.

“With an autocrat, you cannot give an inch,” Colbert concluded. “Jimmy, I stand with you and your team one hundred percent.”

A Friendship Beyond the Headlines

This moment also carried extra emotional weight because of the personal bond between Colbert and Kimmel. Over the summer, when CBS announced it would end The Late Show in May 2026 — a move widely seen as an attempt by Paramount Global to curry favor with the FCC as it sought approval for a merger with Skydance — Kimmel publicly defended Colbert. Jimmy Kimmel Live! even put up “For Your Consideration” Emmy billboards encouraging voters to support Colbert, a campaign that ultimately helped Colbert win this year’s Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series.

Kimmel Speaks Out on Free Speech

Following his reinstatement, Kimmel gave an interview to Variety, stressing that the incident should serve as a wake-up call about threats to free expression in the U.S.:
“I think we were all shocked and disappointed that this kind of thing is happening in America. And also disappointed that we don’t see more people on the right stepping up and saying, ‘Hey, this is no good.’ Silencing comedians, commentators, whatever you want to call us… If Joe Biden had used his muscle to get Sean Hannity kicked off the air, you may be surprised to learn that I would not support that. In fact, I would stand with Hannity in that situation. Because I thought one of the founding principles of this country was free speech. But people don’t seem to care about protecting it unless they agree with the person speaking.”

A Bigger Conversation About Free Expression

Kimmel’s return to air is more than just good news for late-night fans — it’s a pivotal moment in the ongoing conversation about freedom of the press and freedom of speech in America. Colbert, Kimmel, and other late-night hosts have become outspoken defenders of those principles, using their platforms to push back against political pressure.

For Colbert, the reinstatement is cause for celebration — but also a reminder that the fight for free expression never truly ends. In a democratic society, the right to dissenting voices is not just a privilege but an obligation.