These PA TV Stations Still Won't Air Jimmy Kimmel

PENNSYLVANIA — Jimmy Kimmel returns to his late-night show Tuesday night after being suspended last week by ABC for what critics described as insensitive remarks about the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk. But not all Pennsylvania TV stations will air the program.

Broadcasters Sinclair Inc. and Nexstar both have announced they will not air the talk show on their ABC affiliates.

"Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” Sinclair said in a social media statement Monday night. “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”

Nexstar issued this statement Tuesday: "We made a decision last week to preempt 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' following what ABC referred to as Mr. Kimmel's 'ill-timed and insensitive' comments at a critical time in our national discourse.

"We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve."

The Nextstar ABC stations in Pennsylvania are:

• WTET in Erie.

• WBRE in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton.

The Sinclair ABC station is WATM, which serves the Johntown-Altoona-State College area.

A state legislator is prepared to introduce a bill that would establish an annual state holiday in honor of Kirk, who was assassinated during a public event in Utah.

Republican state Rep. Russ Diamond of Lebanon County wants to make the first Monday of August each year"Charlie Kirk Day" in Pennsylvania.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly included a Nextstar station that is not an ABC affiliate. Patch regrets the error.