<\/p>\n
Sal Iacono, Jimmy Kimmel\u2019s cousin and a long-time writer and performer on \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d suggested Sunday that the show may not be coming back on the air after ABC indefinitely suspended the program last week.<\/p>\n
On an episode of \u201cThe Bill Simmons Podcast\u201d late Sunday night, Iacono said he was reluctant to talk about the future of the show out of respect for the staff whose jobs are on the line. But he said significant news could come out this week, and he believed Kimmel will land on his feet no matter what the outcome is.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish I could say anything. There are a couple bombshells still there,\u201d Iacono said. \u201cI\u2019m feeling good. We\u2019re going to be all right. Everything\u2019s going to be just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bill Simmons, who worked as a writer on the show two decades ago, agreed that Kimmel would find a platform if the show ended.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll be fine, whatever he wants to do,\u201d Simmons said. \u201cHey listen, he might just want to be a pop-up chef and start making barbecue around the South Bay area. He\u2019ll do a great job.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d was abruptly and indefinitely taken off the air on Wednesday last week after Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr and networks of affiliate stations threatened ABC over comments Kimmel made in a monologue<\/a> about the MAGA movement\u2019s response to Charlie Kirk\u2019s assassination. The show\u2019s staff will continue to be paid<\/a> for the time being, as discussions continue between Kimmel and executives at Disney, ABC\u2019s parent company<\/a>, over the show\u2019s future.<\/p>\n Iacono called the past week \u201ctumultuous,\u201d so he said Kimmel and his family got together over the weekend. Iacono recalled that most of the family avoided discussing the elephant in the room, but his son was the first to broach the subject.<\/p>\n \u201cMy kids, I think they felt weird approaching him at first. And my middle guy, Jack, who is a junior in high school, breaks the ice and says in his deadpan way, says, \u2018Hey, some kids at school say it\u2019s not right what happened to you,\u2019\u201d Iacono recounted.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd so Jimmy says, \u2018Well, what did you say?\u2019\u201d Iacono said. \u201cHe\u2019s like, \u2018I said, \u201cYeah, I think you\u2019re right.\u201d\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Jimmy\u2019s like, \u2018Well, next time tell them, \u201cI\u2019m not too worried about what happens; my cousin Jimmy is an excellent dancer.\u201d\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Iacono acknowledged that he held more information about the show\u2019s suspension and its future than he was able to reveal, but he was unwilling to say any more on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s all I have to say right now. I can\u2019t really say anything,\u201d Iacono said. \u201cYou and I know too much. It\u2019s very emotional.\u201d<\/p>\n Simmons agreed that it was a topic of conversation best laid to rest.<\/p>\n \u201dWe both know too much,\u201d Simmons said. \u201cNot only our cousin, but all the people working for the show, and, it\u2019s better if we\u2019re not talking about this in any way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I can, I will,\u201d Iacono said.<\/p>\n