Jimmy Kimmel Is Coming Back on Tuesday

It looks like pressure works. After a public furor from both sides of the political spectrum (and thousands of Disney+ cancellations, if not more), Jimmy Kimmel will be returning to the airwaves tomorrow.

“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” a statement from Disney reads. ” It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”

What sort of concessions, if any, Kimmel may have to make are unclear: Will he have to apologize? Will he have to restrain himself when it comes to politics (that seems unlikely). Will this only be temporary until the next situation inflames the situation all over again? How will the right react? How will the President react? Will it embolden others whom the President tries to bully? Who knows?

But for now, Jimmy Kimmel is coming back, and we can celebrate at least this victory, today, for free speech. We can also watch the Alien finale and the premiere of Sterlin Harjo’s The Lowdown without guilt. Tomorrow night’s first show back should also be interesting.