Sinclair’s decision to replace the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” timeslot on its ABC-affiliated stations with a special news segment on Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who was recently assassinated, caused quite a stir. However, the TV station group owner ultimately decided to air the Kirk special on YouTube instead of on its ABC local stations, allowing viewers to continue enjoying ABC programming. The 11:35 p.m. slot on ABC ended up airing a rerun of “Celebrity Family Feud” hosted by Steve Harvey, as ABC had indefinitely suspended Kimmel’s show following controversial comments he made about Kirk’s killer.
In a statement posted late Friday night, Sinclair announced that the Charlie Kirk special would be available on The National News Desk’s YouTube channel, ensuring viewers could still access ABC programming while also providing online access to the special. This decision came after pressure from affiliates and FCC chairman Brendan Carr, who strongly implied that action would be taken against ABC and its affiliates if they did not address the Kimmel controversy.
Sinclair, known for its conservative leanings, made it clear that before considering bringing “Kimmel” back to its ABC affiliates, Kimmel must apologize to Kirk’s family and make a meaningful donation to them and Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded. The network emphasized the need for respectful and constructive dialogue in the media and called for regulatory action by the FCC to address control held by national networks over local broadcasters.
The 55-minute special on Kirk, titled “The National News Desk: Special Edition; The Life and Legacy of Charlie Kirk,” delved into not only Kirk’s life and legacy but also political violence in America, the future of politics, and the voices of young Americans. Sinclair operates 38 ABC affiliates across the country, including prominent stations in Washington, D.C., Seattle, St. Louis, Little Rock, Tulsa, Chattanooga, and Charleston.
As for the episode of “Celebrity Family Feud” that aired in place of Kimmel’s show, it originally aired on August 21 and featured singer Normani and actor-comedian Michelle Buteau, followed by actor-comedian Andy Richter and actor Jason Ritter competing for charity prize money. Variety reported that discussions are underway between Kimmel and Disney executives to potentially bring the show back on the air in the future.
