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Jimmy Kimmel has kicked off a brand-new season of his popular ABC talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which returned earlier this September to eager audiences.
Known for his sharp and irreverent humor, Kimmel continues to entertain viewers, though not without ruffling a few feathers among celebrities who take issue with his comedic style.
In a recent episode, the host’s monologue took an unexpected turn when Robert De Niro appeared onstage wielding a baseball bat, portraying FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. De Niro’s character issued a series of humorous yet pointed warnings about the potential suspension or cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
“Who’s threatening you? Am I threatening you?
Do you feel threatened by me?” De Niro asked, adopting a tough stance.
Kimmel responded with his trademark wit: “Look who it is, everybody – the chairman of the FCC. What was your name again?”
De Niro, maintaining his role, snapped back, “My name is none of your f***ing business. That’s my name.” He then explained he was conducting a “routine inspection” of the show.
The two-time Oscar winner proceeded to chastise Kimmel for making 192 jabs at former President Donald Trump, demanding the host quiet down to hear his points.
When Kimmel attempted to defend himself, De Niro’s FCC chairman quickly cut him off. “Did I tell you it was your turn to talk, numb nuts? You speak when I tell you to speak, and otherwise you shut the f*** up,” he said sternly.
De Niro’s character outlined a tongue-in-cheek “rule” for Kimmel: to balance any insults directed at Trump with an equal compliment. “If you say something like, ‘Trump wasn’t invited to Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday party because they were afraid he’d eat the cake before the kid jumped out,’ then you also have to compliment his penmanship in that naked lady birthday poem he didn’t write,” he explained.
With this comedic back-and-forth, Kimmel and De Niro delivered a sharp satire on censorship and political commentary, keeping audiences laughing while poking fun at the ongoing tensions between entertainers and regulatory bodies.