Jimmy Kimmels ratings boom appears to be circling the drain. Disney briefly suspended ABCs "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" last month after the hosts remarks about the alleged assassin ofCharlie Kirksparked widespread backlash. Once Disney reversed course, the liberal comedian drew a massive audience for his much-hyped return on September 23.On Thursday, Oct. 2, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" averaged 1.9 million viewers, shedding 71% of the audience that tuned in for the hosts return from suspension.JIMMY KIMMEL'S LATE-NIGHT EVOLUTION FROM APOLITICAL FUNNYMAN TO DEM ACTIVISTThe decline among the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults aged 25-54 was even more significant, as "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" managed 265,000 viewers from the critical group on Thursday night to lose 85% of the 1.7 million who tuned in on Sept. 23. It marked Kimmels smallest audience among demo viewers since the suspension.Kimmel averaged 1.6 million viewers in 2025 before Disney decided to temporarily sideline him, so another drop would result in the show returning to its pre-scandal viewership.ABCs "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" also trailed Fox News "Gutfeld!" across the board on Thursday.TURNING POINT DIDN'T WANT JIMMY KIMMEL CANCELED BECAUSE ABCS LIAR DOESNT DESERVE TO BE A MARTYRGutfeld averaged 2.8 million total viewers to top Kimmel by 49% and 370,000 demo viewers for a 40% edge in that category, too.Kimmel found himself in hot water last month when he falsely suggested that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination, waspart of the "MAGA gang,"despite reports he had a left-wing ideology, which was reaffirmed in the indictment filed the next day."We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it," Kimmel told his audience.The false suggestion that Robinson was a MAGA supporter sparked outrage and scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Disney decided to suspend the show after Nexstar and Sinclair pulled airings of Kimmel from their stations, and Kimmel reportedly had told executives last week he would not apologize for his comments.SINCLAIR ENDS JIMMY KIMMEL BAN AFTER SIDELINING HOST AMID CHARLIE KIRK CONTROVERSYKimmels brief benching caused outrage from the left, and hundreds of protesters demonstrated outside Disneys location in Burbank, California, to demand that Disney put "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" back on the air. Protesters also gatheredoutside Kimmels studioon Hollywood Boulevard, where they were recorded chanting, "ABC bent the knee! No to the FCC!"Disneys suspension lasted less than a week and Kimmel returned with apassionate monologuebut stopped short of a full apology. Once Kimmel addressed the situation, he immediately went back to bashing President Donald Trump and other conservatives on a nightly basis.Kirks supporters panned Kimmels non-apology, saying the ABC host failed to take responsibility for the falsehood."Kimmel is an unrepentant liar who tried to blame Charlies assassination on the part of the country that just spent the last 2 weeks praying and holding vigils," Turning Point USA spokesmanAndrew Kolvet reacted.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFox News Digitals Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.