Headline CNN: Source: ABC Wants Kimmel Back, But He Has To Lower the Temperature

[senseandsensibility]

I don't know. Sounds like censorship to me. I have been hearing hints all day that ABC is thinking of making this a temporary "pause" on the show, but this is the first I heard that there will be conditions.

[Traildogbob]

1. Promise to

Maintain the same temp as Hannity and Waters. Otherwise, STFU.

[sakabatou]

2. In other words, "Don't piss off Dear Leader."

[Deuxcents]

5. "Walk this Way" or think and say what I like, or else.

[Jack Valentino]

44. We could "lower the temperature" by immediately putting Trump into cryostasis

"AI Overview
Human Cryostasis - The Cryonics Institute
Cryostasis refers to the preservation of an organism in a state of suspended animation by maintaining it at extremely low, sub-zero temperatures to prevent biological processes, with the hope that future medical advancements will allow for its revival and recovery from a condition that would otherwise be fatal. This is achieved through a process of cryopreservation and is a concept often seen in science fiction. "

In this case, ignore everything after "prevent biological processes"....

[Initech]

55. The first amendment doesn't have an asterisk.

Fuck Trump!

[roamer65]

3. Let him out of his contract, Disney.

There are other networks who will pick him up uncensored.

HBO, TBS, etc, etc.

[Fiendish Thingy]

9. Not HBO

Larry Ellison, whose son just bought CBS/Paramount, wants to buy the company that owns HBO.

[a kennedy]

18. Oh fawk, how many gawd damn networks do they all fawking need??

🤬 🤬 🤬 🤬 🤬

[0rganism]

41. ALL of them, there can be no recognizable media outlet for public dissent

I'm guessing you know this already and your question was mostly rhetorical, but I felt it deserved a response.

And fwiw, I agree with the sentiment







If/when society rebuilds, our descendants will have to figure out how to prevent this kind of grotesque consolidation from ever happening again. I wish them the best of luck.

[Trueblue Texan]

33. God, I hope that doesn't happen...my daughter works for them. nt

[AloeVera]

4. As a kid, I lived in a country where everyone had to "lower the temperature" every day

That country was behind the Iron Curtain.

[msongs]

6. his show likely emolys dozens of people. except for them he could switch to a podcast/blogcast.... nt

[lapfog_1]

7. he should lower the temperature... to blast furnace

and roast Disney corp., Eisner, the fascist FCC chair, ABC ( for being cowards ) and the owners of Sinclair, etc.

in addition to Trump and the mis-administration usual suspects.

Spread the satire. Make it relentless.

[Fiendish Thingy]

10. Eisner hasn't been head of Disney for nearly 30 years

Current CEO is Bob Iger.

[Celerity]

64. Nearly 20 years. He stepped down on September 30th, 2005.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Eisner

[Chipper Chat]

8. Jimmy: Tell ABC to stuff it.

Go somewhere else. And take Guillermo with you.

[Trueblue Texan]

34. Sue the F*ck out of them! nt

[johnnyfins]

37. THIS. MOTHERFUCKING THIS.

[debm55]

56. I like Guillermo.

[spanone]

11. I thought the comments that canned him were pretty low temp.

[Passages]

12. Who determines the temperature??

Corporate media is disgusting and cowardly.

[Baitball Blogger]

13. I wouldn't do it.

Next time they’ll fire him for due cause because he was forewarned,

[Mike Nelson]

14. The "temperature" of that series...

... of jokes was already low. The "GUTFIELD!" show on FOX has a million times higher temperature, if they are looking for fever-pitched political nasty comedy.

[kacekwl]

15. I

sincerely hope he tells ABC and trump to go fuck themselves

[B.See]

16. "Lower the Temperature" translation:

"We know we fk'd up by cancelling you. Disney knows. CARR knows he fk'd up too. And so does Trump.

So to get a lid on this before it blows WIDE OPEN, we want to bring you back, if you only let us save a little FACE by your promising to kowtow to Trump like WE do.

[a kennedy]

17. Damn right it's censorship. 🤬 🤬 🤬 🤬 🤬

Fawk em Jimmy…….

[GarColga]

19. Personally, I think Kimmel's political monologues

are a bit on the boring side and I wouldn't miss them. Bring back Cousin Sal and Aunt Chippy!

[senseandsensibility]

20. Who?

I don't think that's the point. Freedom of speech is.

[skypilot]

43. We need an "Unrec" button on DU.

*

[littlemissmartypants]

50. Aren't they dead?

[MrWowWow]

21. ABC and FCC: Freedom of Speech for TeeVee Talk Show Hosts

Talk show hosts on ABC are bound by:

FCC Rules:
* No obscenity ever
* Limits on indecency/profanity (6 a.m.–10 p.m.)
* Equal-time obligations for political candidates
* Sponsorship disclosure.

ABC Rules:
* ABC sets editorial, accuracy, and conduct standards
* Contracts often include “morals clauses.”

Law: They can’t defame people; the First Amendment stops government censorship, not ABC from enforcing rules.

For broadcast talk shows on ABC (or any U.S. broadcaster), the controlling federal law is the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. That law authorizes the FCC to regulate broadcast content.

Key statutory points:

47 U.S.C. § 326: Forbids the FCC from censoring broadcasters, but allows regulation of obscene, indecent, and profane content.

18 U.S.C. § 1464: Makes it unlawful to utter any obscene, indecent, or profane language by means of radio communication (applies to TV too).

47 U.S.C. § 315 (Equal Time Rule): Requires broadcasters who give airtime to one legally qualified political candidate to afford equal opportunities to others.

47 U.S.C. §§ 317, 508: Require disclosure of sponsorships and prohibit payola/plugola.


Everything else (like editorial balance or “fairness”) is governed by network policy, not federal statute, since the Fairness Doctrine was repealed in 1987.

[Polybius]

22. Well, before him, you never knew where other Tonight Show hosts leaned politically

Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, and Conan O'Brien had you guessing if they were Democrats (Leno and O'Brien are, Carson was) or Republicans. Another talk show host that had you guessing was David Letterman. I prefer it that way. Johnny Carson said it best, he never did serious controversy dialog or jokes.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1715016625719237

[Skittles]

24. yeah that was fine IN THE PAST

nowadays, when the press and politicians are completely FAILING us, these guys are needed MORE THAN EVER

and FUCK fascist FB, FUCK THEM

[Polybius]

51. Well, I think it's fine now too

I don't want my talk show hosts to be openly liberal or conservative. From a business standpoint, it makes more sense as well, since you want both sides to watch.

[Skittles]

58. you don't seem to get it

it's not LIBERAL vs CONSERVATIVE

it is DEMOCRACY vs FASCISM

[Polybius]

61. I get it

I want my talk show hosts to be apolitical in affiliation. He was also like this over 10 years ago, before MAGA.

[Skittles]

62. sure

whatever

[Polybius]

65. What have you got against a difference of opinion?

Last edited Fri Sep 19, 2025, 02:33 PM - Edit history (1)

Not everyone has to see things the same way as you do. Your reply was snark and wasn't very tolerant.

[Skittles]

66. LOL

it's DEMOCRACY VS FASCSIM

that's not a DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, THAT IS FACT

DONE HERE

[Polybius]

68. That has nothing to do with what we were discussing

I prefer my talk show hosts to be like Conan, Leno, Letterman, and Carson. You prefer them to be like Kimmel and Colbert, and that's fine. I don't care that we disagree, but you have no tolerance for this difference of opinion for some reason. That's ok, have a good day.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

29. Same here

With the occasional exception of Jimmy Fallon, I haven't watched any of the late night shows in years because I just don't find them entertaining.

[Scrivener7]

23. ABC needs to go fuck itself.

[Skittles]

25. damn straight

bending at the knee for that thin-skinned fascist POS Trump, FUCK THEM

[0rganism]

45. Maybe we hear more about that tonight from JS

rec staring at 25:20 for the gfy song

[tinrobot]

26. Letterman used to keep his CBS studio as low as 55 degrees fahrenheit.

Would something like that count as "lowering the temperature?"

[usonian]

27. I wrote a funny column in my old flyfishing club's newsletter that got one or two pissed off.

I found a short pier and asked them to take a long walk.

P.S. That pier was about a mile away.

[iemanja]

28. I watched that video on YouTube

They said nothing about ABC’s wanting Kimmel back.

[senseandsensibility]

35. As I said in my OP this was a chyron on CNN

I am reporting what they aired. They said they had a source. Make of it what you will.

[iemanja]

36. The video has that same title

It appears that CNN is engaging in click bait.

[senseandsensibility]

38. I believe they are saying that they (CNN) have a source

that is telling them off the record that this is going on. This source is only telling CNN. Other outlets don't have that source. Again, it may or may not be accurate.

[iemanja]

39. Did you actually see them reporting on this?

Or just the chyron?

[senseandsensibility]

40. I have to admit that I was distracted

and I know they were covering this topic extensively. I did take care to copy the chyron exactly though.

[Emile]

30. The "Whiny Ass Snowflake" feelings were hurt.

[BootinUp]

31. Kimmel should tell ABC to take a flying f___

[OrlandoDem2]

32. Fuck ABC! Fuck Disney! Boycott both!

[Hugin]

42. Kimmel on ice...

Really sounds like a drag.

[Reader Rabbit]

46. Fuck. That. Noise.

No bending over for fascism.

[Diraven]

47. This will never happen

Some billionaire shareholders could lose a few bucks if they have to actually defy Trump. Can't have that.

[mzmolly]

48. Turn down the temp until the merger

is approved.

[littlemissmartypants]

49. He could agree...

Then change his mind at the last minute and totally flame out. It would be epic.

[Klarkashton]

52. Fuck them.

[Tetrachloride]

53. condoms

[Kablooie]

54. It's legal if a private company censors an employee.

That’s how Trump gets away with it. Ostensibly the company made the decision not the government.
We will be seeing a lot more like this. Trump will make hints and companies cave. I don’t know how you get around this.

[Scrivener7]

63. And it's legal if the public rejects that company.

[marble falls]

57. ABC realized that they forgot who they serve. Advertisers and audience, not politicians. ...

... of course on second thought they want Jimmie back, I think Jimmie's playing the stronger hand right now.

[senseandsensibility]

67. CNN has run the same chyron today and I heard refetences

to wanting Kimmel back on MSNBC this morning too. Sam Stein said he's hearing that ABC wants Kimmel back, but Alex Witt just cut him off and didn't ask for details.

[Jim__]

59. Sure, ABC could have just Trump pre-approve Kimmel's jokes.

[Blue Full Moon]

60. They are not doing that well to begin with.

Jimmy Kimmel and his crew by the time they are through suing will end up owing it.