Stephen Colbert has commented on the news of Jimmy Kimmel’s return to the air, stating that the development marks a partial end to a challenging period in late-night television. Colbert expressed his happiness for Kimmel and his team, adding that he is looking forward to resuming their on-air rivalry.

The remark comes after Kimmel’s suspension, which was recently lifted. Colbert had been competing with Kimmel for an Emmy Award, ultimately winning the prize. However, he acknowledged that celebrating his win was difficult due to Kimmel’s suspension.

Colbert’s own show was cancelled by CBS in July, following his accusations that the network’s parent company, Paramount, had paid a bribe to former US President Donald Trump. The cancellation occurred just days before the Trump administration approved Paramount’s merger with Skydance.

According to Colbert, the suspension of Kimmel led to a surge in Google searches for terms such as “cancel Disney+” and “cancel Hulu”, which may have prompted Disney to reinstate Kimmel. Colbert also noted that another trending search term was related to finding alternative entertainment for children, highlighting the impact of Kimmel’s suspension on his audience.

The development is significant for the late-night television landscape, as it marks a return to normalcy for Kimmel’s show. The incident also underscores the complexities of the television industry, where programming decisions can have far-reaching consequences. As the industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these developments will affect the future of late-night television.