ABC aired a rerun of Celebrity Family Feud in the 11:35 p.m. time slot on Wednesday, replacing Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the late-night program was pulled indefinitely following controversial remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The preemption marked a rare disruption of ABC's late-night lineup, with the network moving to provide late-night entertainment in a different format while it reviews the incident. The rerun, hosted by Steve Harvey, featured two teams of celebrities competing in the survey game. Kimmel had been slated to host Rob Lowe and Grace Van Patten, with a musical performance by Margo Price planned for the segment, according to schedule notes associated with the show.
Beyond the local preemption, Sinclair Broadcast Group, the nation’s largest operator of ABC affiliates, said its stations will air a special in remembrance of Charlie Kirk during Kimmel’s time slot on Friday, with the program rolling out across Sinclair stations this weekend. The company indicated the special would run in lieu of standard late-night programming in the 11:35 p.m. window. Separately, Nexstar Media Group, which operates a broad network of ABC affiliates, announced that it would preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! in its markets beginning with that night’s show, replacing it with other programming in the ABC schedule. Both moves reflect heightened scrutiny of how networks and affiliates handle controversial moments in late-night television.
Kimmel’s comments in a recent monologue stirred the response. He said that what he described as a MAGA faction was attempting to score political points off Kirk’s death, which occurred when the conservative activist was shot at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10. Although his remarks drew immediate criticism from some corners, Sinclair and Nexstar said their actions are part of broader concerns about professionalism, accountability, and the tone of public discourse in late-night television. Sinclair framed the action as a call for broadcasters to educate and elevate respectful dialogue, and it urged an apology to Kirk’s family along with a meaningful donation to Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk helped lead. FCC leadership has also been cited in the discussions around the incident.
The suspension represents a notable intersection of local and national dynamics in the television industry. Sinclair noted that it would not lift the suspension until there were formal discussions with ABC about the network’s commitment to professionalism and accountability. Nexstar similarly pointed to the need for programming that aligns with its stations’ public expectations and standards. The companies’ statements underscore the delicate balance local affiliates must strike when network content becomes the focus of public and political scrutiny.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which debuted in 2004, has long been a fixture of ABC’s late-night slate. At present there is no announced date for the program’s return, and ABC has not detailed plans for resuming normal late-night operations in its national lineup amid the ongoing discussions with affiliate groups. The episode preemptions and the planned Charlie Kirk remembrance special illustrate how networks are navigating a rapidly evolving media environment where comments by high-profile hosts can trigger swift corporate responses and shifts in programming in both local markets and across the national network.
As media groups reassess the boundaries of late-night commentary, observers note that the situation highlights the ongoing tension between centralized network control and local affiliate prerogatives. The coming days are expected to clarify whether Kimmel will return to the airwaves in the 11:35 p.m. slot or if further adjustments will extend beyond a temporary pause. Until then, audiences may see continued variation in late-night programming across ABC-affiliated stations as groups weigh public reaction, advertiser considerations, and editorial standards.
