From Second City to Annoyance: Chicago comedy reacts to Kimmel suspension
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Stephen Colbert (L) and Jimmy Kimmel speak onstage during the 71st Emmy Awards in 2019. Photo: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
ABC's indefinite suspension of late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel after comments about the killing of Charlie Kirk has ignited a local firestorm over freedom of political speech under the Trump administration.
What they're saying: "We've got the Trump administration literally targeting individuals — you saw it with [Stephen] Colbert, now you're seeing it with Kimmel — anybody that's criticizing this administration," Gov. JB Pritzker said on MSNBC.
- "They're using the power of government to intimidate companies to fire people."
Why it matters: Chicago has deep roots in politically charged comedy, ranging from legendary Second City revues to boundary-pushing stand-up clubs.
- "As far back as ancient Greece, theater has always been a place to go to where you can be assured that the voice against the government was free," Annoyance Theatre co-founder and former Second City director Mick Napier tells Axios. "This makes me sick."
Flashback: In 1962, comedian Lenny Bruce was famously arrested for indecency by Chicago police while using profanity in his act at the Gate of Horn.
- Second City has a long history of scorched-earth political comedy, including jabs at powerful mayors and disgraced governors, while also satirizing presidents like Trump.
- The truth-to-power style of comedy made the troupe famous, as many of the comedians went on to be stars.
Yes, but: When Axios reached out to Second City — which promotes its ties with Colbert, Jordan Klepper and loads of "Saturday Night Live" and "Daily Show" alumni — to comment on the Kimmel suspension and political free speech, theater officials said, "We have no comment at this time."
Yes, but, but: Hours later, the company acquiesced and said in a statement: "For 65 years, satire has been our bedrock. We punch up, never down. People can boo or walk out — but we always come back the next night. That's how free speech in comedy should work."
The intrigue: Students at the University of Chicago started Second City in 1959, and it was independently owned until 2021, when it sold to a New York City-based private equity firm.
- "I would hope that the soul of Second City doesn't waver," Napier said. "It would be very, very sad if the platform were affected, and that would make me, personally, very sad."
The other side: FCC chairman Brendan Carr says broadcasters are licensed to operate in the public interest, which is different from free speech rights for individual or even stage performances.
The latest: Sinclair joined with Nexstar, both broadcast companies that own independent television stations, to say that a suspension is not enough, demanding that Kimmel publicly apologize for his comments and pay a fine before agreeing to air the show on their stations.
- Sinclair will air a remembrance of Charlie Kirk in place of Kimmel's show on Friday.
Friction point: On Thursday, Pritzker's campaign released a statement urging viewers to boycott not only ABC but Nexstar-owned stations like WGN-TV and WGN Radio.
The bottom line: The chilling effect of the Kimmel firing may inspire local institutions to either back away from political comedy or dive in deeper.
- "This should be an invitation to rise up and have more of a fervor against what's going on right now in the world," Napier said. "The Annoyance hasn't been that political lately because audiences are exhausted from it. But now, we're reinvigorated."
What we're watching: The new season of "Saturday Night Live" begins in early October. The show, which is beginning its 51st season, has been singled out by Trump in past seasons for its politically charged comedy.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a comment from Second City.