Jimmy Kimmel resumed his late-night talk show hosting duties on Tuesday, Sept. 23, after a six-day suspension.
ABC suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in the wake of comments that the titular host made about the fatal shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel began his highly-anticipated return monologue with a nod to late comedian Jack Paar.
“As I was saying before I was interrupted … ” he quipped.
Paar, who died at age 85 in 2004, uttered those exact words when he returned to NBC’s “Jack Paar Tonight Show” in March 1960 after a month-long break. Paar voluntarily resigned from the talk show in February 1960 after NBC censored one of his jokes about an English woman asking for directions to the “W.C.,” meaning the bathroom, and a Swiss gentleman instead pointing her in the direction of a wayside chapel.
During his on-air resignation, Paar said, “There must be a better way of making a living than this.”
When he returned one month later, Paar opened the show by joking, “As I was saying before I was interrupted, I believe my last words were that there must be a better way of making a living than this. Well, I have looked, and there isn’t.”
“The Jack Paar Tonight Show” aired on NBC from 1957-1962. Paar was the second host of “The Tonight Show” after Steve Allen (1954-1957). Paar was succeeded by Johnny Carson, who helmed the program for 30 years before Jay Leno took over in 1992. Conan O’Brien had a brief stint as the “Tonight Show” host from 2009-2010 before its current host, Jimmy Fallon, stepped in.
After his nod to Paar, Kimmel acknowledged his suspension, noting that he’d received an “overwhelming” amount of support from fans, friends, and his fellow late night personalities.
“I’ve heard from all the people in the world over the last six days. Everyone I have ever met has reached out 10 or 11 times,” he said.
On a more serious note, Kimmel got choked up as he said it was “never [his] intention to make light of the murder of a young man.”
READ MORE: What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk before his indefinite suspension?
“I don’t think there’s anything funny about it. I posted a message on Instagram on the day [Charlie] was killed sending love to his family and asking for compassion, and I meant it, and I still do,” Kimmel continued. “Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but I understand that to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both. For those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset. If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I’d have felt the same way. I have many friends and family members on the other side who I love and remain close to even though we don’t agree on politics at all. I don’t think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone. This was a sick person who believed violence was a solution. And it isn’t, ever.”
Kimmel also spoke about the necessity of free speech, joking that while his “show is not important,” getting “to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this” is.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” airs on ABC weeknights at 11:30 p.m. ET. Episodes are available to stream on Hulu the day after they air.