Podcast Summary: "How Normal Americans See Kimmel's Suspension"

The Tony Kinnett Cast – The Daily Signal
Guest: Chris Loesch
Date: September 22, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode examines the recent indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel by Nexstar/ABC Disney Media following his controversial comments on the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Tony Kinnett and broadcasting veteran Chris Loesch discuss the facts behind the decision, media accountability, the shifting landscape of late-night television, and broader trends affecting legacy media from a commonsense, middle-American perspective.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background: Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension [01:08]

• Recap of the Event:
  Kimmel made remarks about Charlie Kirk's assassination, incorrectly assigning blame to a "MAGA type," which was later proven false, and insulted his audience's intelligence.
• Industry Fallout:
  Nexstar/ABC Disney suspended Kimmel, citing the comments and the move towards greater scrutiny of broadcast standards.

2. Media Conspiracies & FCC's Role [02:14]

• Debunking the Narrative:
  Widespread rumors claimed FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr threatened broadcasters, leading to Kimmel’s removal.
• Brendan Carr Interview Clip [04:58]
  Carr refutes involvement:

  "No, not at all. But it does, I guess, tell a better story for partisans on the left." – Brendan Carr [05:00]
  He emphasizes local stations’ autonomy in programming and frames the decision as a significant pivot back to local accountability, away from national media control: "It's a market correction that's really necessary…It's the local TV stations that said, I've got to look out for the needs of my local community." – Brendan Carr [06:24]

• Chris Loesch’s Perspective:
  Loesch supports Carr, adding that broadcasters have both legal and ethical responsibilities, not just to audiences but to shareholders. [09:26]

3. Ratings, Revenue, and Shareholder Impact [07:53]

• The Numbers:
  Tony presents data showing Kimmel’s declining ratings (~1.77 million weekly viewers) lagging behind Colbert and far trailing conservative radio hosts, like Loesch's wife, Dana, who commands about 7.5 million weekly listeners.

  "If she was doing the kind of numbers that those guys were doing, do you think she would even have a job in radio?" – Chris Loesch [10:22]

• Corporate Responsibility:
  Companies risk shareholder lawsuits by supporting loss-leading personalities or divisive content.

  "There comes a point where if you're a stockholder in Disney, abc, wait a minute, they are driving their stock prices down by endorsing this bad decision that may not even be legal." – Tony Kinnett [11:03]

4. Cultural Commentary: Politics in Entertainment [12:02]

• Impact of Agenda-Driven Media:
  Disney and other studios are criticized for pushing sociopolitical agendas at the expense of beloved franchises (e.g., Star Wars, Marvel).

  "...They're destroying the good...intellectual property that they have by injecting their own political influence, their own cultural influence into it." – Chris Loesch [12:49]

5. The Future of Late Night [14:01]

• Trends & Predictions:
  With Kimmel and Colbert gone, remaining hosts like Fallon and Meyers face scrutiny over politicization.
  Loesch expects networks may encourage a return to genuinely funny, less partisan comedy akin to Johnny Carson or Jay Leno. [15:01]
• Memorable Quotes:

  "Johnny Carson was the greatest all-time late night talk show host. I don't think anybody denies that. He never spent a lot of time pointing a finger one way or the other." – Chris Loesch [15:26]

6. Comedy Across the Aisle [19:11]

• The Importance of Balanced Humor:
  Both hosts lament the decline of comedy that can poke fun at all sides—citing "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", Comedy Central roasts, and Norm MacDonald as examples where political balance produced genuine laughs.

  "When they got into the political stuff. Go watch the roast of Ronald Reagan." – Tony Kinnett [20:20]

7. Cancel Culture & Forgiveness [20:28]

• On Apologies and Outrage:
  Personal stories (Norm MacDonald and Roseanne Barr) illustrate how modern cancel culture doesn't allow redemption, contrasted with past norms.

  "...you have to take that person's whole livelihood...even when they apologize. So what's the point of the apology?" – Chris Loesch [21:34]

8. Authenticity in Media Figures [23:28]

• Personalities vs. Politics:
  Anecdotes about Megan McCain, Dana Loesch, and others highlight the value of authenticity behind the scenes, unfiltered by on-air personas.

9. Video Games and Cultural Commentary [24:28]

• Gamers and Broadcasting:
  Tangential discussion on the game Helldivers 2 as a microcosm of political satire that "pokes fun at all sides," reminiscent of South Park and earlier forms of balanced media entertainment.

  "When you take a step back, you do a little South Park and you make fun of everybody." – Tony Kinnett [25:17]

10. Identity Politics and American-ness [30:03]

• Refuting Online Extremes:
  Light banter over online identity politics, ancestry, and “grade” of American-ness, gently mocking both right- and left-wing purity tests.

  "His people were here before the founders...I'm not sure if that counts or not. Maybe it doesn't make you a grade A. Is it an A plus?" – Chris Loesch [32:55]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Brendan Carr (FCC):

  "...It's a market correction that's really necessary, but it's...easier to try to point fingers or try to find Boogeyman, but that's really what's going on here." [06:34]

• Chris Loesch on Modern Comedy:

  "I think it'd be amazing if they brought on a leftist comic that was actually funny. You know, people would watch." [19:11]

• On Cancel Culture:

  "You have to strip them of their dignity...even when they apologize." [21:34]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Recap of Kimmel Controversy: [01:08]
• FCC Involvement and Market Correction: [04:58–06:54]
• Ratings & Financials: [07:53–12:02]
• Disney, Shareholders, and Political Agendas: [12:02–14:01]
• The State of Late Night: [14:01–16:41]
• Comedy’s Decline & Historic Examples: [19:11–21:34]
• Personal Anecdotes & Broader Culture: [23:28–26:00]
• Video Games as Social Satire: [24:28–26:00]
• Discussion on Identity & “Real Americans”: [30:03–34:07]

Tone & Style

The conversation is candid, humorous, and opinionated, weaving media critique with pop culture references and personal anecdotes. Both Kinnett and Loesch strive to ground the discussion in what they see as "normal" American values, highlighting the disconnect between traditional audiences and legacy media’s current trajectory.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking an in-depth yet engaging overview of episode themes, debates, and standout moments.