Because we live in wild times, today I open the Always Be Watching newsletter with a quote from gossip rag the New York Post (the Daily Mail where it ripped the story from, is behind a paywall… and as if I’m paying for the Daily Mail…):
“Absolutely f–king livid,” one producer told the outlet about how Kimmel took the news, adding that the late-night host is currently meeting with the network, the Daily Mail reported.
“This is clearly the government overreaching. There’s no such thing as free speech in America, if the government can lean on companies to stop any content they don’t like.”
This is obviously in response to the news developing over the last few hours that Disney has pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the ABC airwaves following comments made by the host in the monologue. Disney’s announcement that the show is being pulled followed affiliate Nexstar announcing it too is pulling the show.
The clip, still being monetised by Disney on YouTube, is here:
I wrote about this earlier today at Mediaweek, trying to contextualise it there for a local Australian audience.
Ultimately, it comes down to the networks being freaked out by the FCC, tightly controlled by Trump appointee Brendan Carr who has been vocal in using his power to further the Trump agenda.
Earlier in the day, the Trump-appointed Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr appeared on Benny Johnson’s podcast The Benny Show where he slammed Kimmel’s comments, threatening action by the FCC: “There are avenues here for the FCC, so there are some ways in which I need to be a little careful, because I could be called wholly to become a judge on some of these claims that come up.”
For affiliate Nexstar, the big concern is its effort to scale up with the purchase of smaller rival Tegna in a deal worth $6.2b.
Viewers, American citizens, and well-wishers alike should be outraged by what is going on here as Trump’s government trades in a climate of fear and heavy-handed overreach.
Where does this leave Kimmel? If he’s as outraged by this as one would assume, I’m not expecting an apology. Does he pursue legal remedy? Does he retire quietly in the night? Does he launch a podcast? How long is it until he guests on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert?
And the other big question… if this really is it for Kimmel on ABC (and I sense that it may well be)… where does this leave ABC and late night? I’d be very surprised to see a new late night chat show launched in its place. Maybe The Late Show won’t be the first of these shows to shutter after-all.
Good luck, America.
South Park fails to deliver a new episode
Of all weeks for this to happen, South Park’s Trey Parker and Matt Stone have failed to deliver an episode of South Park.
The official statement:
“Apparently when you do everything at the last minute sometimes you don’t get it done,” they said. “This one’s on us. We didn’t get it done in time. Thanks to Comedy Central and ‘South Park’ fans for being so understanding. Tune in next week!”
Read: Variety
Something about this feels very off. And I’m wondering if work on an episode may have been scrapped based on the general climate of the US following the Charlie Kirk assassination.
As Indiewire points out, the South Park team very rarely miss episode releases when they’re on a schedule like they are right now. A statement provided to the site:
“South Park” did miss a deadline at least once before, specifically back in 2013 and Season 17 due to a power outage of all things.
News Desk
Rob Lowe will star in a new romantic comedy show about a sports radio host who falls for his new producer. What has me intrigued by this one is that My Boys creator Betsy Thomas is on board here. My Boys is one of the great under-seen hangout TV comedies. Read: Variety
Ben Stiller and Jessica Chastain will star in Apple TV+’s The Off Weeks. Read: TV Line
Mario Lopez will host the Daytime Emmys this year. Plot twist tho… they won’t be broadcast on TV. Wait, what? Read: Deadline
Guest starring on season 3 of Elsbeth: Tony Hale, Dianne Wiest, & Lois Smith. If you had told me any of these three had already guested on the show, I’d believe it. Read: Deadline
Seth Rogen is producing a Muppet Show special that will serve as a backdoor pilot for a new series. It celebrates the 50th anniversary of the original The Muppet Show. Read: THR
RIP St Elsewhere writer and Providence creator John Masius. Read: Variety
Whoa. There’s a sequel to The Brothers McMullen coming. The Family McMullen will get a one night theatrical release in the US, which is a bit weird. Surely there’s an audience for this one… But maybe that audience is just me. Read: Variety
A four-part adaptation of A Tale Of Two Cities starring Kit Harington has been picked up by MGM+ in the U.S. and the BBC in the UK. Read: THR
Trailer Park
Nobody Saw Us Leave debuts Oct 15 on Netflix.
Amid divorce, a mother faces stigma and a painful separation when her husband takes her kids in a conflict that shapes her life. Inspired by a true story.
Abbott Elementary returns Oct 1 on ABC/Hulu.
That’s the newsletter for today.
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