Jimmy Kimmel’ s emotional return to Jimmy Kimmel Live! has become the most-watched monologue of his career, reaching tens of millions of viewers across TV, YouTube, and social media, despite being preempted in more than 20 percent of U.S. households. The episode, his first since being suspended under Trump administration pressure , wasn’t just about ratings. It was a test of how far audiences will go when institutions clamp down on a voice they want to hear — and a cultural moment that placed Kimmel at the center of a national conversation on free speech.

Jimmy Kimmel’s Return Monologue Breaks Records After 'Live!' Suspension

Image via Disney, ABC

Kimmel's return episode drew 6.3 million viewers on broadcast, more than triple Kimmel’s average, even without Nexstar and Sincl

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