Jimmy Kimmel is reflecting on his rocky 2025 after winning Best Talk Show at Critics Choice Awards 2026.
The comedian’s talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!faced a six-day suspension in September amid a right-wing backlash over comments he made about Charlie Kirkthe death of Kimmel has also faced repeated criticism from the president donald trump.
“It was almost a near-death experience for me,” the late-night host, 58, reflected in the winners’ room after his win on Sunday, January 4, for people. “Of course, not literally, but I felt a little like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn watching their own funeral, when all these things happened.”
“To be here and see people react to it not only in a positive way, but almost desperately, we’re like, ‘Oh boy, when they come after the comedians, that’s when we draw the line,'” he said of Sunday’s big win. “We are very grateful that they drew the line for us.”
Late-night television programming is undergoing a drastic change this year. From the cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to ABC abruptly pulling Jimmy Kimmel off the air, it’s been a time of upheaval for weekday comedy shows. Here are the latest changes to the 2025 nighttime landscape: Stephen Colbert Canceled Scott Kowalchyk (…)
ABC’s brief suspension of Kimmel’s talk show in September sparked speculation about whether the move was politically motivated. Trump has previously called for the cancellation of his show.
Members of the Trump administration criticized Kimmel’s comments in the wake of Kirk’s fatal shooting in September
“We hit new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to get political points out of it,” Kimmel said at the time.
about returning to the air After six days, Kimmel said, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”
on Sunday, Kimmel addressed Trump directlyaged 79, during his acceptance speech at the Critics Choice Awards.
“We share this award with our late-night colleagues, our fellow nominees who didn’t care enough to be here with you tonight,” he said at the award ceremony, which took place at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, California. “Thank you to all the writers and actors and producers and unionists, so many of you in this room who have supported us, who have really stepped up with us and reminded us that we don’t take free speech in this city or this country for granted. Your actions were important and we appreciate them.”
Kimmel thanked Trump, “without whom we would be going home empty-handed tonight.”
“Thank you, Mr. President, for all the ridiculous things you do every day,” Kimmel said. “It’s been a banner couple of weeks, and we can’t wait to get back on the air tomorrow night to talk about it.”
Kimmel also mourned the death of his time friend and band leader Cleto Escobedo III in November 2025, which led to another brief hiatus.
“It’s not fair,” he said in one moving tribute on the November 11 episode of his talk show. “He was the nicest person, humble, kind and always funny.”
Kimmel added, “Cherish your friends. We’re not here forever.”