The late-night host said the last few months for him felt “a little bit like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn watching their own funeral.”

Jimmy Kimmel says last year felt like a ‘near-death experience’ after 2026 Critics Choice Awards win

The late-night host said the last few months for him felt "a little bit like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn watching their own funeral."

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and *NME*.

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January 5, 2026 11:10 a.m. ET

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Jimmy Kimmel in the press room at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. Credit:

Frazer Harrison/Getty

Jimmy Kimmel is feeling grateful after a tumultuous year. **

The late-night host reflected on the hardships that *Jimmy Kimmel Live *has faced in recent months — including its six-day suspension last September — after winning the award for Best Talk Show at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on Sunday. **

"It was almost a near-death experience for me,” Kimmel told reporters in the winner's room, per PEOPLE. “Of course, not literally, but I did feel a little bit like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn watching their own funeral, when all this stuff happened.”

Jimmy Kimmel (with wife and co-head writer Molly McNearney) accepts his Best Talk Show award for 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.

Kevin Winter/Getty

*Jimmy Kimmel Live *was temporarily pulled from ABC's lineup following comments Kimmel made about the killing of Charlie Kirk in September. He was reinstated nearly a week later amid a nationwide debate about freedom of speech.

"To be here and to see that people reacted to it in not just a positive way, but in almost a desperate way, we're like, 'Oh boy, when they come after the comedians, this is when we draw the line,'" Kimmel continued. "We're very grateful that they drew the line at us."

See all the winners at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards

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Still, it hasn't been an easy return to television screens as Donald Trump has repeatedly called for the show's cancellation. The show also mourned the loss of its band leader and Kimmel's childhood best friend, Cleto Escobedo III, in November.

Kimmel took a moment to speak directly to the president during his acceptance speech at the event.

"Most of all, I want to thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump, without whom we would be going home empty-handed tonight," he said. "Thank you, Mr. President, for all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day."

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The host continued, "It's been a banner couple of weeks, and we can't wait to get back on the air tomorrow night to talk about them."

Jimmy Kimmel on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'.

Disney/Randy Holmes

Kimmel also thanked his colleagues for all of their support over the last few months in his speech.

"Thanks to all the writers and actors and producers and union members, many of you who are in this room, who supported us, who really stepped forward and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or in this country," he said. "Your actions were important. We appreciate that."

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Source: “EW Critics”