When Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned on Sept. 23 after nearly a week off the air, fans were waiting to hear how the host would address his ABC suspension, the FCC’s looming threats, and the free speech debate that has consumed the entertainment industry. What they got was more than jokes or defiance: they got a roll call of gratitude that surprised nearly everyone.

Expected Allies

As anticipated, Kimmel thanked the late-night colleagues who rallied to his side during his suspension. The names were familiar:

Stephen Colbert, who called Kimmel’s suspension a “blatant assault on freedom of speech.”

Seth Meyers, who reminded his audience that the First Amendment “stands above all others.”

John Oliver, who devoted an entire Last Week Tonight segment to blasting ABC and warning Disney CEO Bob Iger that “history will remember the cowards.”

Legends like Conan O’Brien and David Letterman, who voiced public support.

Even Jay Leno, once one of Kimmel’s fiercest rivals, publicly defended his right to speak freely — a twist Kimmel himself acknowledged with a wry grin.

The Shocking Names

But then came the surprises. Kimmel pivoted from the expected to the improbable, thanking a list of conservative commentators and Republican politicians who had spoken up for him:

Ben Shapiro

Clay Travis

Candace Owens

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

Sen. Rand Paul

Sen. Ted Cruz

For longtime viewers, hearing Kimmel read those names aloud felt surreal. These are figures he has relentlessly mocked over the years, turning them into running gags, parodies, and monologue punchlines. Cruz, in particular, has been Kimmel’s foil for years, from skewering his political stumbles to their infamous one-on-one charity basketball game.

“And maybe weirdly, most of all, I want to thank the people who don’t support my show and what I believe, but support my right to share those beliefs anyway,” Kimmel told the audience.

Agreeing With Ted Cruz

Perhaps the night’s most striking moment came when Kimmel played an audio clip of Ted Cruz.

In the clip, Cruz admitted he loved that Kimmel was “fired,” but condemned government censorship and the precedent of pulling comedians off the air.

For the first time in the show’s history, Kimmel found himself agreeing with Cruz.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Kimmel joked. “But he said something very beautiful on my behalf.”

A Bigger Point

Kimmel made clear that highlighting conservative defenders wasn’t about burying old grudges. It was about demonstrating that his suspension raised broader issues than partisan politics.

“My show isn’t important,” Kimmel admitted. “But protecting freedom of speech and limiting government overreach are much more significant topics.”

By elevating these unlikely voices, Kimmel reframed his ordeal not as another chapter in the left-right culture war, but as a free-speech debate that transcends party lines.

Breaking the Echo Chamber

Late-night television has long been criticized as an echo chamber of liberal humor. By highlighting comments from people like Cruz and Shapiro, Kimmel countered that narrative. He underscored that even his fiercest critics saw the danger in political pressure forcing comedians off the air.

The bipartisan acknowledgment turned his monologue into more than a personal defense; it became a case study in how two sides that rarely agree can still find common ground.

A Temporary Truce

Of course, no one expects the détente to last. Kimmel will no doubt return to lampooning Cruz, McConnell, and the rest in future episodes, and they will likely resume firing back. But for one night, both sides paused the insults and acknowledged a principle more important than ratings or politics: the right to speak freely.

Conclusion

Jimmy Kimmel’s return monologue balanced humor, sincerity, and subtle defiance. But it was the glaring surprise of who he thanked that elevated the night from a comeback to a cultural moment. By acknowledging his unlikely allies, Kimmel reframed the debate over his suspension as bigger than late-night, bigger than ABC, and bigger than himself.

For one night, the late-night host and his usual adversaries found themselves on the same side — and that may be the most unexpected punchline of all.