Jimmy Kimmel Roasts Disney and ABC at the Upfronts

NEW YORK, NY – Jimmy Kimmel returned to the Disney upfronts on Tuesday to deliver his annual monologue, despite uncertainty over whether he would be in attendance due to his daughter’s impending childbirth.

During a pre-taped segment, Kimmel jokingly referenced his upcoming grandfather status: “I can’t wait to see this thing we’ve been talking about for so many years. What do they call it again? Oh, right, ‘CBS.’” This was one of many jabs directed at fellow networks.

After the pre-tape, which featured Dr. Dre as a special guest, Kimmel appeared live at the Javits Center, where he took aim at the entertainment industry and his employer, Disney’s Bob Iger. He quipped, “I do this once a year, like a prostate exam, but it’s hard to say no when Bob Iger shows up.”

Kimmel remarked on the contrasting performance of television networks this year, stating, “This is a weird experience for me because usually I come out here to distract you from the fact that we’re dying, but somehow network television, like Jesus before us, has risen again.”

Kimmel threw shade at NBC and its content offerings while celebrating news of an uptick in viewership for most networks. He claimed, “Of the four major networks, only one didn’t see viewership go up year to year. I’m not going to tell you which one.”

The host turned to Fox and CBS, humorously criticizing their programming decisions and making light of NBC’s lengthy history. Kimmel ended his act by urging advertisers to support journalism, particularly ’60 Minutes,’ saying, “They deserve it. You have the power because you have the money to support journalism. It’s important, and it doesn’t work without you.”

Kimmel has had an up-and-down history with the upfronts, skipping last year due to WGA strikes and appearing virtually in 2022 after contracting COVID. His ability to return in person this year captivated audiences, blending humor and a heartfelt message for the future of news.