Robert De Niro Stuns Jimmy Kimmel Live! Audience With Playful F-Bomb

Jimmy Kimmel came back on air, and because this year can not resist one more plot twist, Robert De Niro popped in to play the FCC boss from a Martin Scorsese fever dream. Yes, that actually happened.

De Niro, but make it FCC

For Kimmel’s Sept. 23 return to TV, De Niro showed up via video in a sketch as the new chair of the Federal Communications Commission — a fictional one, obviously — leaning hard into a mob-movie vibe.

The bit was framed around whether the FCC is cracking down on what Kimmel can say after the past week’s mess. De Niro’s chair did not exactly radiate calm.

'I am the f***ing FCC, I can say whatever the f**k I want... It’s just me, Jimmy, the chairman of the FCC, gently suggesting that you gently shut the f**k up.'

When Kimmel reminded him that swearing on TV usually triggers a fine, De Niro steamrolled right over it. He even pitched a new FCC motto, twisting the old sticks-and-stones line into a warning about words: basically, be careful and choose wisely — 'Capisce?'

Why this return was such a big swing

Kimmel’s show went on what ABC called an 'indefinite' pause nearly a week ago after on-air remarks he made about a high-profile shooting that immediately turned into a political lightning rod, with right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk pulled into the debate. Disney/ABC said they benched the show at first to avoid pouring fuel on an already emotional moment.

In his monologue, Kimmel pushed back on how the tragedy was getting weaponized and, in classic Kimmel fashion, cut to clips of President Donald Trump talking about building a ballroom at the White House. He also posted a note of sympathy online: 'On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.'

The broadcast tug-of-war (aka the inside baseball part)

Disney told stations the show would resume Sept. 23 after conversations with Kimmel. Not everyone signed on. Two major station groups — Nexstar Media and Sinclair Broadcasting — said they would still preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! on their ABC affiliates for now.

• Disney/ABC: Greenlit Kimmel’s return for Sept. 23, saying the original timeout was to cool tensions.
• Nexstar: Called Kimmel’s Sept. 15 comments 'ill-timed and insensitive' and is keeping replacement programming until it gets assurances of 'respectful, constructive dialogue.'
• Sinclair: Also continuing to preempt the show across its ABC affiliates.

That is not a typical late-night rebound. Networks announce a comeback; some station groups shrug and say 'we will see' — pretty unusual.

Bottom line

Kimmel is back, De Niro showed up to play hilariously profane hall monitor, and the fallout from last week’s controversy is still shaking out market by market. If you are in an ABC area that is actually airing it, Jimmy Kimmel Live! is back in its usual slot: weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC.