Kimmel’s rise from radio to cultural icon hits roadblock with ABC’s suspension of late

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a crowded late-night field, Jimmy Kimmel rose to become a cultural fixture.

For two decades, Kimmel has been one of the most familiar faces on television. He's the kind of entertainer who could blend slapstick humor with sharp political satire and still find himself entrusted with hosting Hollywood’s most prestigious ceremonies. His career arc has been impressive, rising from radio gigs in Las Vegas to rubbing elbows with the likes of Meryl Streep at the Oscars and turning world leaders into punch lines on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”