The recent Jimmy Kimmel suspension was more than just a crash course in jawboning; it was the banana in the coal mine that showed how thin the line is between late night comedy and government censorship. And after ABC caved to a direct threat from the FCC, it seemed like Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers were our last bastion against state-controlled media. What weak walls those would be. Thankfully, Kimmel isn’t nearly as done with the fight for free speech as things appeared to be. Variety has coverage:
Disney and ABC will bring the comedian back to its schedule starting Tuesday night. “Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive,” the company said in a statement. “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.”
Three cheers for having a backbone! Last week, Sinclair tried to bully Kimmel into apologizing and paying tithe to Turning Point and Kirk’s estate before he could get back on TV. Jimmy refused the attempted strong-arming and good on him for it. And good for us too — we probably would have had the same Jimmy Kimmel has more of a backbone than any of the firms that pledged loyalty to Trump when the law was on their side thoughts, but now they’re doubly as strong. Mind you, the reversal on the suspension likely had more to do with business than it had to do with a commitment to free speech principles, but that said, be wary about the “Disney lost $4B over this” information being bandied about — the numbers aren’t as clear as that would suggest. Either way, a win is a win!
You’d better have one hell of a cold open tomorrow, Kimmel. The pressure is on!
Jimmy Kimmel Returns: ABC Ends Suspension Starting Tuesday [Variety]
Earlier: We’re In The Cancelling Talk Shows Phase Of Free Speech Crackdowns
Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s . He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who is learning to swim, is interested in critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.
The post So Much For The FCC Getting Rid Of Jimmy Kimmel! appeared first on Above the Law.
The recent Jimmy Kimmel suspension was more than just a crash course in jawboning; it was the banana in the coal mine that showed how thin the line is between late night comedy and government censorship. And after ABC caved to a direct threat from the FCC, it seemed like Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers were our last bastion against state-controlled media. What weak walls those would be. Thankfully, Kimmel isn’t nearly as done with the fight for free speech as things appeared to be. Variety has coverage:
Disney and ABC will bring the comedian back to its schedule starting Tuesday night. “Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive,” the company said in a statement. “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.”
Three cheers for having a backbone! Last week, Sinclair tried to bully Kimmel into apologizing and paying tithe to Turning Point and Kirk’s estate before he could get back on TV. Jimmy refused the attempted strong-arming and good on him for it. And good for us too — we probably would have had the same Jimmy Kimmel has more of a backbone than any of the firms that pledged loyalty to Trump when the law was on their side thoughts, but now they’re doubly as strong. Mind you, the reversal on the suspension likely had more to do with business than it had to do with a commitment to free speech principles, but that said, be wary about the “Disney lost $4B over this” information being bandied about — the numbers aren’t as clear as that would suggest. Either way, a win is a win!
You’d better have one hell of a cold open tomorrow, Kimmel. The pressure is on!
Jimmy Kimmel Returns: ABC Ends Suspension Starting Tuesday [Variety]
Earlier: We’re In The Cancelling Talk Shows Phase Of Free Speech Crackdowns
Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s . He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who is learning to swim, is interested in critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.
The post So Much For The FCC Getting Rid Of Jimmy Kimmel! appeared first on Above the Law.
