‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ returns to the air on Tuesday
‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ returns to the air on Tuesday
Here’s how you can stream the return of Kimmel after his suspension from ABC last week.
The media controversy that has taken the American public by storm in recent days is ending — in one sense, at least — on Tuesday night. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is returning to ABC on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 11:35 p.m. ET. Kimmel will return to the airwaves for the first time in nearly a week on Tuesday evening, and is not expected to hold back any emotions regarding a suspension following remarks he made following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Just about everyone will want to hear what Kimmel has to say, and you can watch the episode with a free trial of DIRECTV.
How to watch ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ return to air
- When: Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 11:35 p.m. ET
- TV: ABC
- Stream: Watch with a five-day free trial of DIRECTV.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about the return of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’
What time is ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ coming back?
The return of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is slated for the show’s usual timeslot, 11:35 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Why do we recommend watching the return of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on DIRECTV?
There are many ways to watch “Jimmy Kimmel Live!“‘s return episode on DIRECTV. The streamer offers a five-day free trial with all plans delivered through the customer’s own streaming device, and it comes with ABC in the MyNews and MySports Genre Packs, as well as all Signature channel packages starting with the ENTERTAINMENT plan.
The MySports Genre Pack includes ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC in a large majority of American markets, and costs $70 per month. It’s a great choice for sports fans who don’t need a wide selection of other cable channels with their plan. The MyNews similarly delivers news-related channels for $40 per month, and Signature plans that include a balance of sports, news, and entertainment start at $85 per month.
There are no long-term contracts when you get DIRECTV delivered through your internet connection; just sign up and cancel any time you want. You can use your plan to watch “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” come back to airwaves on Tuesday night, and a wide selection of other programming as well.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.
Can you watch the return of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ for free?
There are several streamers besides DIRECTV that come with free trials, which will allow you to watch “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday night.
The first is Hulu + Live TV, which offers a standardized free trial of three days for all new subscribers. It carries ABC in most markets around the country, and costs $83 per month for plans that include the Disney Bundle free when you sign up.
The next two free trial services on the list have trial windows that can vary in length, based on factors like what time of month you sign up and others. Fubo’s trial can last between one day and seven, and viewers can choose between the sports-only Fubo Sports service at $56 per month or standard Fubo packages that start at $85 per month.
YouTube TV’s trial lasts between two and 14 days normally, and the service runs $83 per month once the trial ends.
What are all the services you can use to watch the return of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on?
Each of the live TV streaming services we’ve discussed already — DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV — all offer ABC in a large number of markets, and can be used to stream “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday evening. Of these options, we prefer DIRECTV for the reasons laid out above.
Sling TV carries ABC in a small number of markets — fewer than 20 — but if you get it in your area with Sling, you can watch on the service’s Select plan for $20 per month.
ABC no longer has its own dedicated app, so you cannot log into that app on your connected TV using TV Everywhere credentials given by your cable channel distributor and stream the episode. However, you can still do so on the ABC website using your computer or mobile device.
Which Sinclair, Nexstar stations won’t carry the return of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’?
Sinclair Broadcasting Group and Nexstar station group, which collectively own nearly one-quarter of the local ABC affiliates around the United States, have announced that they will preempt episodes of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” at least for the time being
That means customers in markets where the ABC station is owned by Sinclair and Nexstar will not see Tuesday evening’s episode, barring a last-minute breakthrough in negotiations between the network and the company. They will be able to catch the full episode the next day on [Hulu$].
Viewers in the following markets will not see “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC:
- Abilene, Sweetwater, Texas
- Amarillo, Texas
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Champaign, Springfield, Decatur, Illinois
- Charleston, West Virginia
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Columbus, Ohio
- Dayton, Ohio
- Eureka, California
- Florence, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, North Carolina
- Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, South Carolina
- Asheville, North Carolina
- New Bern, North Carolina
- Lincoln, Hastings, Kearney, Nebraska
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Macon, Georgia
- Mobile, Alabama
- Pensacola, Florida
- San Angelo, Texas
- Ottumwa, Iowa
- Kirksville, Missouri
- Washington, D.C.
- Portland, Oregon
- Quincy, Illinois
- Hannibal, Missouri
- Keokuk, Iowa
- Roanoke, Virginia
- Lynchburg, Virginia
- Rochester, New York
- Seattle, Washington
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Traverse City, Michigan
- Cadillac, Michigan
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
The same is also true of Nexstar stations; Nexstar owns more than 30 ABC stations around the country, and these will also not offer “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” preempting the show’s timeslot. Nexstar ABC markets include:
- Albany, New York
- Augusta, Georgia
- Binghamton, New York
- Billings, Montana
- Burlington, Vermont
- Clarksburg/Weston, West Virginia
- Dothan, Alabama
- Erie, Pennsylvania
- Evansville, Indiana
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Hartford/New Haven, Connecticut
- Joplin, Missouri
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Lansing, Michigan
- Lubbock, Texas
- Midland/Odessa, Texas
- Nashville, Tennessee
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Panama City, Florida
- Richmond, Virginia
- Rockford, Illinois
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Sioux City, Iowa
- Syracuse, New York
- Terre Haute, Indiana
- Topeka, Kansas
- Tri-Cities, Tennessee/Virginia
- Utica, New York
- Watertown, New York
- Wheeling, West Virginia
About the return of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’
Kimmel’s comments about the assassination of Kirk incensed right-wing figures around the country, including FCC chairman Brendan Carr, who has shown no hesitance to wield the heft of his office for the political gain of the Trump administration. Disney has to tread carefully around Carr and other regulators in the administration, particularly as it needs government approval to move ahead with its deal to acquire NFL Media properties, including NFL Network.
The removal of Kimmel from the air was a startling act for free-speech advocates, who have already looked askance at Carr’s determination to use the FCC to advance Trump’s interests. No doubt Kimmel himself will have plenty to say about the affair on Tuesday evening, and it will bear watching to see what kind of language he uses and whether he attempts to smooth things over with viewers who received his comments poorly, as well as affiliate owners who still refuse to put him on the air.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and broadcast on ABC.