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Kimmel’s original comments didn’t otherwise focus on Kirk. He instead lambasted President Donald Trump and his administration’s response to the killing. On his first show back Tuesday, the comedian did not apologize, but did say “it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man” and acknowledged that to some, his comments “felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both.” He also used a blend of humor and pointed messages to emphasize the importance of free speech. Maryland-based Sinclair and Texas-based Nexstar continued to preempt the show for three days even after ABC and Disney returned it to national airwaves. New episodes of the show air Monday through Thursday. Friday night’s rerun will be of Tuesday’s show — so viewers of Sinclair stations can see Kimmel's emotional return to the air. Viewers will have to wait until Monday to get the host's take on the latest moves. In its statement Friday, Sinclair pointed to its "responsibility as local broadcasters to provide programming that serves the interests of our communities, while also honoring our obligations to air national network programming.” The company added that it had received “thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers and community leaders,” and noticed “troubling acts of violence," referencing the shooting into the lobby of a Sacramento station. Sinclair said its proposals to Disney to strengthen accountability, feedback and dialogue and appoint an ombudsman had not yet been adopted. In a similar statement Friday, Nexstar said it appreciated Disney's approach to its concerns and that it “remains committed to protecting the First Amendment” while airing content that is “in the best interest of the communities we serve.” Both companies said their decisions were not affected by influence from government or anyone else. Disney representatives declined comment. As a result of Sinclair and Nexstar's boycott, viewers in cities representing roughly a quarter of ABC's local TV affiliates had been left without the late-night program on local TV. The blackouts escalated nationwide uproar around First Amendment protections — particularly as the Trump administration and other conservatives police speech after Kirk’s killing. They also cast a spotlight on political influence in the media landscape, with critics lambasting companies that they accuse of censoring content.
