Nearly a week after being put on “indefinite hiatus,” Jimmy Kimmel returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday night with a little help from Robert De Niro.
The 82-year-old Oscar winner appeared virtually during a sketch in the show’s opening movement, playing a fictional FCC chairperson in the style of his famous mob-boss roles. Kimmel, who told the audience he was expecting to speak to actual FCC chairman Brandon Carr, then informed De Niro’s character that it appeared as though the FCC was using mafia tactics to suppress free speech.
“What the f–k did you just say to me?” De Niro shot back. After being told by Kimmel that the FCC forbids swearing on television, De Niro added: “I am the f—ing FCC, I can say whatever the f–k I want.”
“It sounds a little like threat and intimidation to me, Chairman,” Kimmel continued.
“It’s just me, Jimmy, the chairman of the FCC, gently suggesting that you gently shut the f–k up,” De Niro ordered. A moment later, the actor shared the FCC’s new motto: “Sticks and stones may break your bones.”
“And…well, the rest of that is, ‘But words can never harm you,'” Kimmel returned.
“Oh, well, they can harm you now,” De Niro said. “Let’s make sure you pick the right words. Capisce?”
Kimmel Returns After Uproar
Disney announced on Monday that Kimmel would return to the air on Sept. 23 following a nearly week-long hiatus after the host made controversial remarks in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death. In its statement, Disney said it decided to “suspend production” to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,” the statement concluded.
