Jason Bateman weighed in on the sudden pause of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” while promoting his new Netflix series “Black Rabbit” on the Today show. During the interview, host Craig Melvin shifted the conversation to Bateman’s longtime friend Jimmy Kimmel, whose late-night show was recently placed on indefinite hiatus.
Bateman Supports Jimmy Kimmel
“Well, it’s troubling to say the least. And we all have to really take a moment and figure how we feel about this type of thing,” Bateman said, looking directly at Melvin. He added that conversations were already happening about how to respond.
“You just can’t stand by and let stuff like that go on,” he explained, before clarifying that he was referring to Kimmel’s show being pulled over freedom of speech concerns.
Jimmy Fallon Cancels Conference Appearance
GettyBateman’s comments came on the same day Jimmy Fallon abruptly canceled an appearance at Fast Company’s Innovation Festival in New York City. The “Tonight Show” host had been scheduled to sit on a panel called “Staying On Brand” to discuss his upcoming NBC reality series “On Brand.”
Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty ImagesInstead, attendees were told Fallon would not appear. “In light of recent events, Jimmy couldn’t be here,” a spokesperson for the festival announced, according to Business Insider.
Kimmel’s Show Pulled From ABC’s Schedule
The fallout follows ABC’s decision to pause “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” effective Wednesday, September 17. The network confirmed the late-night staple would be placed on indefinite hiatus.
In its place, ABC filled the 11:35 p.m. slot with reruns of “Celebrity Family Feud.” According to Variety, more than 150 affiliate stations were sent a memo explaining that the fan-favorite game show would temporarily fill the slot while ABC reviews the program’s future.
This announcement dropped two months after CBS canceled “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Kimmel openly backed Colbert, even casting his vote for “The Late Show” to take home the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show — a category where he himself was also nominated.
The day after the Emmy Awards, Kimmel also celebrated Colbert’s win with John Oliver.
Celebrity Family Feud Steps Into Late-Night Slot
Affiliate stations quickly adjusted to the schedule change. Sinclair, one of the largest affiliate groups, confirmed it would air a special in Kimmel’s slot on Friday and make it available to other ABC stations. Nexstar Media also announced it would replace “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with alternate programming across its markets.
For now, Steve Harvey’s “Celebrity Family Feud” is filling the late-night void, offering lighthearted entertainment during a turbulent week for television.
Hollywood Rallies Around Jimmy Kimmel
The hiatus quickly drew reactions from across Hollywood, with stars voicing their support for the late-night host. Ben Stiller, Sophia Bush, Don Lemon, Kathy Griffin, and Wanda Sykes were among those who spoke out.
Sykes, who had been scheduled to appear on the show, posted a video on Instagram saying, “Love you, Jimmy.” Stiller also weighed in on X, writing, “This isn’t right,” in response to the network’s decision.
Comedian Mike Birbiglia shared a handwritten note on Instagram, stressing the importance of defending others even when you disagree with them.
He also urged fellow comedians to speak out in support of Kimmel.
