Jimmy Kimmel Recalls Support from Mother During Show Suspension

Jimmy Kimmel shared that his mother, Joann Iacono, made constant efforts to comfort him with homemade food during the brief suspension of his show. She often asked if she could bring dishes like pasta e fagioli, and even brought cookies featuring his face to the studio.

Kimmel, 57, mentioned this during a recent episode, highlighting his mother’s persistent kindness. Her support came after actress Lisa Ann Walter gifted him a homemade dish, maccheroni alla pesarese, acknowledging the challenging period. Walter humorously explained that her goal was to help him through the downtime with classic American comfort foods, humorously adding it included a “great rack” alongside a good meal.

Following a controversial segment on Charlie Kirk’s death, Kimmel’s late-night ABC show was temporarily taken off-air. The suspension was effective last week after Kimmel referenced Kirk’s death, which occurred on September 10 when Kirk was shot during a speech at Utah Valley University. Kimmel responded critically to accusations that he had made light of the murder, expressing regret and stating it was never his intention.

In the first episode after returning to the air, the show attracted 6.26 million viewers, marking its highest rating since March 2015. The network announced that the show would resume broadcast on Tuesday, citing efforts to support his staff and address the previous controversy.

During his first monologue after the hiatus, Kimmel appeared emotional, emphasizing his respect for Kirk’s family and clarifying that his intent was never to mock or diminish the seriousness of the incident.