Howard Stern just gave Jimmy Kimmel the ultimate stamp of approval, and fans are loving the unexpected praise from the legendary shock jock. During a recent episode of The Howard Stern Show, the radio icon shared his thoughts on Kimmel’s return monologue after Jimmy Kimmel Live! went back on the air.
“I was saying to myself, what the f*** is he going to say? I thought he hit the right tone. I thought it was beautiful,” Stern told his co-host Robin Quivers, clearly impressed by how Kimmel handled the pressure-filled situation.
The praise comes after Kimmel delivered a powerful monologue addressing free speech and the challenges facing late-night television. In his return, Kimmel specifically mentioned Stern as one of his boyhood idols alongside David Letterman, saying he felt “honored to be part of a group of people that knows what goes into doing a show like this.”
@howardsternshow Howard Stern Reacts to Jimmy Kimmel’s Return to @Jimmy Kimmel Live. #jimmykimmel #jimmykimmellive #disney #fcc #sternshow
♬ original sound – The Howard Stern Show
Howard Stern Recognizes the Impossible Pressure Jimmy Kimmel Faced
Stern, who has faced his own battles with censorship throughout his career, understood exactly what Kimmel was up against. “Imagine the pressure, you had to come out and be the face of free speech? Plus, he’s representing Disney. And, plus, he’s supposed to be f***ing funny. That’s an impossible task. It’s not easy,” Stern explained.
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The radio legend appreciated how Kimmel referenced comedy pioneers like Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, and Stern himself while making his point about free speech. Kimmel had declared that “a government threat to silence a comedian that the president doesn’t like is Anti-American.”
Robin Quivers agreed with Stern’s assessment, calling Kimmel’s handling “brilliant.”
What Makes This Praise So Meaningful for Jimmy Kimmel?
Getting approval from Howard Stern carries significant weight in the entertainment world. Stern has spent decades defending free speech in broadcasting and knows firsthand the challenges of dealing with government pressure and censorship attempts.
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“Well done, Jimmy. You did a great job. Very, very good,” Stern concluded, offering the kind of professional respect that means everything coming from a veteran broadcaster.
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Fan reactions were overwhelmingly positive, with many noting that Stern “definitely knows” what it’s like to face similar pressures. Others praised the longtime friendship between the two entertainers, with one fan commenting about “Howard and Jimmy’s bromance” going back to Kimmel’s earlier career days.
The mutual respect between these two broadcasting icons demonstrates how veterans in the industry support each other when free speech principles are at stake.
