James Talarico’s interview with Jimmy Kimmel was originally set to run on television, but it will not do so. The exchange will instead be released exclusively through YouTube.
During his Wednesday monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel announced a change, pointing to pressure from the Federal Communications Commission as the reason. The interview had been set to run on Thursday’s broadcast.
“For the whole 20-plus years of our show, in fact, I’ve been interviewing Americans who are running for office with no problem at all, just like Letterman did, Leno did, Arsenio, etc., etc,” Kimmel said.
I have spent time talking to many political candidates over the years, from Hillary Clinton to Ted Cruz to Donald Trump himself. When he was running for president in 2015, I sat down with Donald Trump. At that point, while he was the one seated beside me, he showed no objection to talk show hosts interviewing candidates. Instead, he appeared quite eager to return for a second conversation, which he did just before he became the nominee in 2016.
Kimmel Blames FCC Pressure
Kimmel did not mince words about what changed.
“But for some reason — and I can’t seem to figure out what that reason is — something has changed,” he continued. “Now that he is president, his FCC has threatened me, threatened our show, threatened our network, ABC, and our affiliates, our local stations, based on simple, traditional editorial decisions, guest bookings, it would seem they don’t like.”
The move follows a similar incident earlier this year. A planned interview between Talarico and Stephen Colbert on CBS’s The Late Show was not broadcast after network lawyers raised concerns about the FCC’s equal time rule. That interview was also released on YouTube instead.
New FCC guidance from Chairman Brendan Carr on interpreting the equal time rule prompted worries about a shift in broadcast standards. Those who raised objections said the move could push shows like The View, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Daily Show toward carrying fewer voices with political views.
Talarico Interview Heads to YouTube
Kimmel explained the decision as a protective measure for local stations.
“And so, out of consideration for our local stations, especially our ABC affiliates in Texas who would have to deal with this nonsense, my interview tomorrow with James Talarico will not air on television,” Kimmel said.
Instead of being shown on television, it will appear on YouTube. If you wish to find out about a candidate running for the Senate tomorrow, you must visit the Jimmy Kimmel Live! YouTube channel, where you will see it in full. Thank goodness we have that, because in the America we live in right now, that is the best we can manage until November. Make sure you’re registered to vote, by the way, because that’s the most important thing you can do, of course.
The interview will appear in full on the show’s YouTube channel.
ABC’s Legal Fight With the FCC
The dispute is not limited to guest bookings. ABC is currently suing the FCC after the agency launched an early review of ABC’s local broadcast licenses. The review cited the network’s internal diversity and inclusion practices.
President Trump repeatedly criticized ABC programming during the FCC’s review, targeting both Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The View publicly. He has also led a pressure campaign to remove these shows from the airwaves.
The lawsuit is still unresolved.
The Two Shelved Interviews
Both ABC and CBS took nearly identical paths with their Talarico interviews: both were pulled from broadcast, and both ended up on YouTube.
| Show | Network | Planned Guest | Original Plan | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! | ABC | James Talarico | Thursday broadcast | Moved to YouTube |
| The Late Show | CBS | James Talarico | Earlier this year | Moved to YouTube |
What separates the two cases is the origin of the decision. Colbert’s network had its lawyers make the call. For Kimmel’s show, he says the threat from the FCC was what pushed the choice.
A Timeline of the Dispute
The conflict has built over several months. Carr’s guidance arrived first. The Colbert interview followed. Now Kimmel’s interview has been pulled from broadcast.
| Event | When | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Carr issues new FCC guidance | Earlier this year | New interpretation of equal time rule |
| Colbert-Talarico interview pulled | Earlier this year | CBS lawyers cite FCC concerns |
| Interview released on YouTube | Earlier this year | Colbert interview moves platforms |
| FCC reviews ABC licenses | Timing not given | Cites diversity and inclusion practices |
| ABC sues FCC | Timing not given | Challenges the license review |
| Kimmel announces interview pulled | Wednesday | Moved to YouTube instead |
Kimmel’s opening remarks showed clearly that he views this as a defeat for broadcast television. The interview remains scheduled to take place, and it will still find an audience. However, it will no longer arrive via the usual route.
For years, the program has welcomed political candidates without incident. Kimmel cited his predecessors and fellow hosts. He pointed out that Trump had appeared on the show while campaigning for president.
Two Networks, One Outcome
At least two major networks have already been influenced by Carr’s guidance. One interview was taken down by CBS, and ABC has since removed another. Both of these broadcasts ended up on YouTube instead.
The Texas stations that carry Kimmel’s decision protects ABC’ would be the ones facing the fallout from an FCC complaint. Shifting the interview to YouTube takes that exposure away.
Texas Senator Talarico is running for office, and his conversation with Kimmel will be posted in full on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! YouTube channel.
A major late-night show’s decision to remove a political interview from broadcast is an uncommon step. Political interviews form a standard part of the format. Taking one off for regulatory reasons marks a notable change in direction.
Kimmel showed his anger openly. At the same time, he stated his stance clearly. The threat would not end the interview, he made plain.
“Thank goodness we have that, because in the America we live in right now, that is the best that we can do until November,” Kimmel said.
The audience will hear the interview. A different platform carries it now. But what comes through has stayed the same.
Right away, the outcome is straightforward. A single interview ends up on YouTube. A separate program stays clear of a fight with the FCC. And one candidate still gets his turn to be heard.
Source: consequence.net
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