Jimmy Kimmel marks record-breaking Tv comeback of the year

American television host Jimmy Kimmel has made a spectacular return to late-night TV, and the ratings show he is bigger than ever.

The 57-year-old comedian returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday, September 23, following Disney’s ABC suspension of the show over his controversial remarks after the killing of Charlie Kirk.

Viewers, however, clearly could not wait to see what he had to say, with a staggering 6.3 million tuning in, the largest audience in more than a decade.

Moreover, Disney confirmed it was the most-watched regular episode in the programme’s history, with only two specials, following the 2006 Super Bowl and the 2014 Oscars, drawing bigger numbers.

On YouTube, Kimmel’s fiery 28-minute monologue has already amassed over 18.7 million views, making it his most-watched clip ever. 

This success comes despite Nexstar and Sinclair blocking the broadcast in nearly a quarter of US households.

The former president Donald Trump raged on Truth Social, labelling Kimmel a “DNC puppet” and threatening to take legal action against ABC. 

He even mocked his supposed “poor ratings”, claiming the show “was cancelled” before Disney reversed its decision.

Kimmel, however, had the last laugh. On air, he quipped: “You almost have to feel sorry for Trump. He tried to cancel me – and instead millions more watched. That backfired bigly.”

RELATED: Jimmy Kimmel reduced to tears as he returns to late-night show