In the last 24 hours, the world of late-night talk shows has been shaken by the sidelining of one of its long-standing stars, reported threats of repercussions from the Trump Administration, and a constant stream of divided opinions on social media. As the fallout continues, one of the greatest former talk-show hosts has voiced his opinion on Jimmy Kimmel Live! being pulled off-air, while President Donald Trump attempts to resurrect a law that was revoked in the 1980s to ensure that TV shows cannot constantly attack him. Until a few years ago, David Letterman was one of the highest rated and most respected late-night talk show hosts in history. Despite having retired, Letterman’s view on the industry he was at the top of for decades is one that still commands respect, and he has a definite stance on yesterday’s news of Jimmy Kimmel being indefinitely suspended. Letterman appeared at The Atlantic Festival today (Thursday), and called the controversial turn of events a “misery.” He said:
“It’s ridiculous. You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office, that’s just not how this works. We all see where this is going. It’s managed media and it’s no good.”
Letterman said that he had shared texts with Kimmel, joking he was “sitting up in bed and taking nourishment, and he’s going to be fine.” He also noted how for 30 years he had been doing the same kind of shtick Kimmel had effectively been suspended for, but never ended up in a position that the Trump administration has instigated.
“The point is beating up on these people, rightly or wrongly, accurately or perhaps inaccurately in the name of comedy, not once were we squeezed by anyone from any governmental agency, let alone the dreaded FCC. [Carr] at the FCC said, ‘We can do things the easy way. We can do things the hard way.’ Who is hiring these goons? Mario Puzo?”

Does Donald Trump Want to Bring Back the Fairness Doctorine?

Donald TrumpCredit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr

Several reports have confirmed that the shelving of Kimmel’s show came after threats of retribution against ABC, and parent company Disney, if something was not done about the show. Now, after his visit to the U.K., President Trump has suggested he wants things to go further to force the FCC to be more involved in preventing the amount of late-night criticism he is subjected to. Speaking to reporters (via Deadline), Trump said:
“When you have a network, and they have evening shows, and all they do is hit Trump. If you go back — I guess they haven’t had a conservative on in years or something — all they do is hit Trump. They’re licensed. They’re not allowed to do that. They’re an arm of the Democrat party.”
Many have taken this to mean that Trump is considering reinstating the Fairness Doctrine, which was removed by the Reagan administration in 1987 and allowed broadcasters to share one-sided viewpoints without needing to balance their guests and opinions. Trump’s FCC chairman, Carr, has already suggested that if broadcasters want to act in a way that is “not in the public interest,” then they can “turn in their licenses.”

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Release Date

January 26, 2003

Network

ABC