It was a typical Thursday morning on CBS Mornings, but things took a sharp turn when co-host Tony Dokoupil offered an unexpectedly blunt perspective on Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night television.
The exchange left veteran anchor Gayle King momentarily speechless.
King had been reflecting on the massive audience Kimmel drew in his comeback, despite the show not airing in nearly a quarter of U.S. households. Major operators like Sinclair and Nexstar have refused to broadcast his program.
“Which kind of makes the numbers even more extraordinary—a big chunk of the country couldn’t get it,” King remarked.
Dokoupil Brings Reality Check to the Conversation
Dokoupil quickly tempered the excitement, noting the financial and reputational challenges Kimmel faces.
“But the 26 million views on social media—most of that money doesn’t go to ABC,” Dokoupil said.
“And the business is bad if you’re offending half the country—the ones that voted for the guy he doesn’t like. So. Here we are. Good luck, late-night.”
King’s stunned pause highlighted just how candid Dokoupil’s analysis was, cutting through the hype surrounding Kimmel’s online popularity.
Kimmel Returns After Suspension, But Challenges Remain
Disney decided to bring Jimmy Kimmel Live! back on the air on Tuesday night, almost a week after suspending the host for controversial comments regarding the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Kimmel was suspended for four days after claiming the “MAGA gang” was trying to distance itself from Tyler Robinson, the accused killer.
However, the show still faces broadcast obstacles.
Sinclair and Nexstar, which collectively operate about 70 ABC affiliates, continue to refuse airing Kimmel’s program due to the controversial remarks.
Trump’s Longstanding Attacks on Late-Night Hosts Continue
The tensions between late-night hosts and Donald Trump show no signs of easing.
Trump has frequently criticized Kimmel and other personalities on social media, and King herself has been targeted.
Last month, Trump claimed on Truth Social that “Gayle King’s career is over,” accusing her of abandoning support for him and dismissing her talent and ratings. King calmly responded:
“Well, I’m sorry he feels that way. But I’m just going to—I like my job, continue to do a good job.”
CBS Mornings Ratings and King’s Future at the Network
King, who has co-hosted CBS Mornings since 2011, faces ongoing challenges as the show continues to struggle with ratings.
Her contract expires in May, and sources indicate CBS executives may not renew it.
The network’s recent corporate merger with Skydance Media, now controlled by the son of billionaire Larry Ellison, has added new layers of scrutiny.
This deal received FCC approval shortly after CBS announced the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s late-night program, also ending in May, signaling major upcoming changes in the network’s lineup.g