In a dramatic turn, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has become a prominent figure in America’s cultural wars. His recent comments, criticizing the ‘MAGA gang’ for politicizing a tragic event, led ABC to indefinitely suspend his talk show, sparking widespread debate. This surprising development highlights the comedian’s remarkable journey, beginning with his early career known for crude humor and a challenge to political correctness, which ironically mirrors some aspects of today’s ‘manosphere’ streaming culture.
For over two decades on national television, Kimmel has transitioned from a satirist who revelled in challenging norms to a broadly acceptable Master of Ceremonies, hosting prestigious events like the Oscars and Emmys. On ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, he has consistently used his platform to critique the current administration and engage with contentious cultural topics, placing him directly at the heart of the very debates he now influences.
Here’s a timeline of significant moments in Kimmel’s television career.
1999-2003: ‘The Man Show’
Kimmel first gained widespread attention as co-host of Comedy Central’s ‘The Man Show,’ a provocative sketch comedy that satirized machismo with a seemingly half-serious tone. The show famously declared its mission to be ‘a dam to stop the river of estrogen that is drowning us in political correctness.’ Kimmel remained with the show until 2003, after which comedian Joe Rogan, who later became an influential podcaster, took over as co-host for its final seasons. In 2020, Kimmel issued an apology for performing in blackface on the show, where he impersonated figures such as Karl Malone and Oprah Winfrey.
2003: Welcome to Late Night
‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ debuted on January 26, 2003 — strategically placed after the Super Bowl to give the newbie an opening viewership bump. Prior to his debut, Kimmel admitted to feeling the pressure of competing against late-night giants like David Letterman and Jay Leno. His opening segments were clearly aimed at the younger male demographic ABC sought, even featuring Snoop Dogg as a guest co-host, humorously noting the presence of ’10 network censors… sweating nervously on the five-second delay button.’ The show established itself as a new challenger in the late-night landscape. A promotional image from the show features a smiling Jimmy Kimmel.
2005-2017: ‘Live!’ Comes Into Its Own
Over the years, ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ cultivated a reputation for its memorable, long-running segments. ‘Mean Tweets’ featured celebrities reading aloud harsh criticisms from social media, while ‘Lie Witness News’ saw Kimmel’s staff interviewing the public about entirely fabricated events. Perhaps most notably, Kimmel engaged in a long-standing, good-natured feud with actor Matt Damon, a rivalry that famously culminated in an Emmy-winning song performance by Sarah Silverman, Kimmel’s then-girlfriend.
2017: Politics Becomes Personal
More than a decade into his successful show, Kimmel’s commentary took a more serious, personal turn. In 2017, following his newborn son Billy’s emergency open-heart surgery, Kimmel used his platform to advocate passionately against health care reforms that would jeopardize coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions. He shared in an interview that year that ABC executives had never censored his political statements, humorously adding they were more concerned about his beard. This period also saw public spats, including one with Fox News host Sean Hannity in 2018, sparked by Kimmel’s imitation of Melania Trump’s accent. Kimmel later apologized, acknowledging that the ‘vitriol from all sides… does nothing good for anyone.’ A multi-year feud with NFL star Aaron Rodgers also began in 2021, centered on Rodgers’ Covid-19 vaccination status.
2017, 2018, 2023, 2024: Dependable Oscars Host
Kimmel’s growing appeal led him to become a reliable host for major awards ceremonies. After practicing his hosting skills at the Emmys for several years, he was tapped to host the Academy Awards in 2017. He famously quipped in his opening monologue, ‘This is my first time here, and the way you people go through hosts, it’s probably my last time here.’ He proved himself wrong, going on to host the prestigious event three more times, offering a blend of praise and good-natured jabs to the assembled stars.
2024: Lamenting Trump’s Second Term
Following the election of Donald Trump to a second term, Kimmel made no secret of his political leanings. He delivered an emotional speech, joking about being on the president’s ‘list of enemies,’ and unequivocally expressed his dismay. He described the election night as ‘a terrible night for women, for children, for the hundreds of thousands of hard-working immigrants who make this country go, for health care, for our climate, for science, for journalism, for justice, for free speech.’
2025: A Sudden Suspension
The controversy that led to his suspension began with a recent monologue where Kimmel commented on the right’s reaction to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He suggested that the ‘MAGA gang’ was ‘desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.’ These remarks drew sharp criticism from conservative figures and even the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, who accused Kimmel of misrepresenting the suspect’s political views. Before he could address the backlash on his next scheduled show, ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ was suspended.