The world of late-night television was rocked this week by a ratings disaster so dramatic it left even seasoned industry insiders stunned. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”—once a staple of ABC’s late-night lineup—lost a staggering 64% of its audience in just two nights following Jimmy Kimmel’s much-hyped return. What should have been a triumphant comeback after weeks of speculation about Kimmel’s career instead turned into one of the most humiliating collapses in late-night history.

And no one seemed more delighted about the downfall than Fox News host Jeanine Pirro. A longtime critic of Kimmel’s comedic style and political leanings, Pirro wasted no time in reacting to the news. With a sly smile, she quipped, “Karma always comes fast—and this time, it came live on air.” For Pirro, who has sparred with Kimmel both directly and indirectly for years, the ratings crash was more than just a story about numbers; it was personal validation. “Audiences are finally done with his arrogance,” she told viewers, savoring the collapse of a man she has often accused of sneering at ordinary Americans.

The Numbers Behind the Meltdown

The numbers tell a story that is hard to ignore. On Tuesday night, Kimmel’s return drew an impressive 6.5 million viewers, thanks in part to heavy promotion and curiosity about his comeback. By Thursday, that number had plunged to just 2.3 million—a jaw-dropping loss of more than two-thirds of his audience in only 48 hours.

Industry analysts were quick to point out that such an abrupt decline signals more than a simple stumble. “You don’t lose two-thirds of your audience in 48 hours unless something fundamental has shifted,” said one media expert. “This isn’t a stumble. This is a collapse of confidence.”

Social Media Reacts: Pirro’s Moment of Vindication

As the news broke, social media lit up instantly. Hashtags like #KimmelCrash, #PirroWasRight, and #LateNightFail surged to the top of trending lists on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Clips of Pirro’s cutting remarks were shared thousands of times, often spliced together with Kimmel’s own mocking monologues from years past and Thursday’s disastrous ratings graph. One viral meme showed Kimmel laughing at his own jokes while a giant “64%” number loomed behind him, captioned: “The only punchline left.”

Observers from both sides of the political aisle weighed in. Critics who had long endured Kimmel’s relentless political commentary declared the collapse “the most embarrassing implosion in late-night history.” Others, less gleeful, admitted that the numbers spelled trouble not just for Kimmel but for the entire late-night model.

ABC in Crisis Mode

At ABC headquarters, the mood was far from celebratory. Insiders report that executives scrambled into emergency meetings with advertising partners as the numbers rolled in. Major sponsors—who had paid premium rates for what was marketed as Kimmel’s big return week—are now privately voicing frustration. “They expected a surge,” one advertising executive said. “What they got was a cliff.”

Panic has reportedly set in behind the scenes, with network officials debating whether the decline is reversible or whether Kimmel has permanently lost touch with viewers. The stakes are high: late-night television has long been a key part of ABC’s brand, and a collapse of this magnitude could have ripple effects across the network’s entire lineup.

Pirro vs. Kimmel: A Long-Running Feud

For Jeanine Pirro, the moment was deeply personal. She has long portrayed Kimmel as a symbol of Hollywood elitism—a man who sneers at conservative values while cloaking himself in comedy. Over the years, she has clashed with him on subjects ranging from politics to culture, and each time, Kimmel turned her into a punchline. But with the latest ratings disaster, Pirro believes the tables have finally turned. “Turns out the joke was on him,” she jabbed in one final remark, a line that instantly went viral.

Conservative commentators quickly framed the collapse as a cultural turning point. To them, the crash proves that mainstream audiences are rejecting what they call “weaponized comedy.” Pirro herself doubled down on this framing, declaring: “This wasn’t just about ratings—this was about honesty catching up with him. You can only mock America for so long before America turns off the TV.”

Her words struck a chord online. Thousands of comments echoed her sentiment, arguing that Kimmel’s downfall was not accidental but inevitable. “For years he built his career on tearing people down,” one user posted. “Now the audience tore him down.” Another added: “The king of smug finally met his match—and it wasn’t another comedian. It was the American people.”

The Bigger Picture: Is Late-Night TV Dying?

Not everyone is cheering the collapse. Some media critics warn that the schadenfreude obscures a bigger problem: the decline of late-night television itself. With Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and others also struggling to hold on to audiences, Kimmel’s meltdown may simply highlight the precariousness of the entire genre. “This isn’t just his problem,” one critic wrote. “It’s the problem of a format that has failed to evolve.”

For decades, late-night TV thrived on a familiar rhythm: opening monologues, celebrity interviews, musical acts. But in an age of streaming, social media clips, and hyper-polarized politics, audiences appear less willing to tune in night after night. Younger viewers, especially, are abandoning traditional broadcasts in favor of platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and podcasts. Kimmel’s steep decline may be the most dramatic example yet of a trend that has been building for years.

The speed of the fall is what has stunned observers. On Tuesday, boosted by heavy promotion and curiosity, Kimmel seemed poised to reclaim his spot at the center of late-night. By Thursday, he had not only lost momentum but hemorrhaged millions of viewers. Some insiders blame his tone. “Audiences were looking for something fresh, maybe even humble,” one producer suggested. “Instead, they got the same recycled arrogance, the same mockery. And people just tuned out.”

What’s Next for Jimmy Kimmel—and Late-Night TV?

ABC must now decide whether to double down on Kimmel, risking further erosion, or quietly prepare for a future without his nightly presence. Either option carries risk. Both carry the shadow of humiliation.

Meanwhile, Jeanine Pirro is basking in the glow of vindication. She has transformed the ratings report into a weapon, wielding it not just as proof of Kimmel’s arrogance but as a broader indictment of late-night liberalism. Whether fair or not, her voice has cut through the noise, capturing a moment of collapse with the precision of a headline.

And so the story continues. A ratings crash becomes a cultural flashpoint. A feud between two television figures becomes a referendum on comedy, politics, and trust. And the once-untouchable Jimmy Kimmel finds himself in a role he never expected: the punchline of his own career.

For now, the numbers speak louder than the jokes. A fall from 6.5 million to 2.3 million in just two days. A 64% collapse. A meltdown broadcast in real time. The audience has delivered its verdict, and for Jeanine Pirro, that verdict is sweeter than any monologue.

“Karma always comes fast,” she said, smiling. And in the echo of her words, late-night television itself may be hearing the sound of its own reckoning.