The return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! from an ABC -imposed suspension drew a big audience Tuesday night — the show’s largest in years.

Despite not airing in about 23 percent of the country’s TV homes — due to blackouts at 66 ABC affiliates owned by Nexstar and Sinclair — Tuesday’s episode drew 6.26 viewers. That’s more than three times higher than the show’s average for the second quarter of 2025, when Kimmel was last the everyday host (he takes most of the summer off, with guest hosts filling in).

From April to June, which included the first week of Kimmel’s annual summer break, Jimmy Kimmel Live ! averaged 1.77 million viewers over seven days of viewing (not including streaming), including the Nexstar and Sinclair stations that are now holding back the show.

The return of Ji

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