Jimmy Kimmel draws huge audience in emotional return

Six days after the late-night TV suspension that shook the world , Jimmy Kimmel returned to his show Tuesday night to make sense of what just happened, or try to anyway — and millions watched, on TV and online.

ABC reported nearly 6.3 million people tuned in to the broadcast alone, despite blackouts in many cities. There was a larger audience online, with more than 15 million people viewing Kimmel's opening remarks on YouTube by Wednesday evening. ABC says more than 26 million people watched Kimmel's return on social media, including YouTube.

Typically, Kimmel gets about 1.8 million viewers each night on television. ABC's numbers do not include viewership from streaming services.

Contrite but just short of an apology, Kimmel spent nearly 20 minutes thanking supporters, blasting crit