Jimmy Kimmel returns to ABC tonight — albeit not everywhere — less than a week after being suspended “indefinitely” by The Walt Disney Company.
Excited for Kimmel’s comeback? Here’s how to watch the Jimmy Kimmel return episode from anywhere with a VPN – and potentially for free.
Hundreds of celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, and Robert DeNiro signed a letter backing Kimmel yesteday. And whatever they said seems to have worked…
Disney’s latest statement reads: “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 [Sept. 23].”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” The show will air at its usual time, 11:35 p.m. ET, on most ABC affiliates. However, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced it will preempt the show on its stations, replacing it with news programming.
So how can you watch “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” when it returns online – from anywhere in the U.S. or abroad? Our streaming guide below explains all…
How to watch ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ in the U.S.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” returns on ABC at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on Tuesday, September 23. But not everyone with ABC will be able to access to it. If you want to be sure, stream it via Fubo (5-day free trial).
This is because Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns and operates 39 ABC affiliate stations, has announced that it is preempting Jimmy Kimmel’s talkshow and will air news programming in its place.
And Nexstar Media Group, which owns and operates 32 ABC affiliate stations, announced its intention to preempt the show “for the foreseeable future” on Wednesday, September 17.
Even if you live in a market served by Sinclair or Nexstar, you can still watch the “Jimmy Kimmel” return episode live. That’s because ABC is available on a streaming basis from cable alternatives like Sling TV and Fubo.
Alternatively, you can tune in from Wednesday, September 24 on Disney Plus and Hulu.
Hulu offers new subscribers a 30-day FREE trial, but you’ll get better value from the Disney Plus and Hulu bundle.
Watch the Jimmy Kimmel return from anywhere
Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the show on your usual subscription?
You can still stream the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” return episode thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear as if they’re back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It’s the best on the market:
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we’ve said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you’re away from the U.S. but want to watch the episode as usual, you’d select a United States server from the list.
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head over to your streaming platform of choice — Sling, for instance — and watch “Jimmy Kimmel’s return live online from wherever you are.
Can I watch Jimmy Kimmel’s return episode in Canada?
Unfortunately, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” no longer airs in Canada but if you are currently visiting Canada, you can still tune into your usual U.S. stream by using a VPN, such as NordVPN (try risk-fre).
Can I watch ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ in the U.K.?
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is only available to stream in the U.S. but that doesn’t mean those visiting the U.K. need miss out…
Traveling abroad? You can use a streaming VPN to access your usual stream — scroll up for how to do that. We recommend NordVPN.
Can I watch ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ in Australia?
You won’t find “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in any listings in Australia either.
If you’re in Australia from the U.S., you can still catch the show by using a VPN, such as NordVPN.
Why did “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” get suspended and what was the fallout?
During his monologue on September 15, Kimmel aired Trump’s response to a reporter asking how he was holding up in the wake of the murder of far-right activist Charlie Kirk. “I think very good. And by the way, right there where you see all the trucks, they just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House, which is something they’ve been trying to get, as you know, for about 150 years, and it’s gonna be a beauty.”
“He’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction,” Kimmel then commented. “Demolition, construction. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
Citing “ill-timed and thus insensitive” comments for the cancelation of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, The Walt Disney Company has seen its share price fall by nearly 2.5% amid the controversy.
What ratings does Jimmy Kimmel get?
Kimmel’s talkshow wasn’t exactly setting the world alight before it fell martyr to President Donald Trump’s assault on free speech. According to data from Nielsen, it was a distant second to “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” during Q2, and and had fallen behind “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” for much of Q3.
In a double-dose of irony, Colbert’s viewership surged from middling figures to near-record numbers only once CBS canceled the show, days after the host criticized the network’s parent company, Paramount, for paying $16m to settle a lawsuit filed by Trump. The FCC subsequently approved an $8.4bn merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media.
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