Jimmy Kimmel isn’t taking the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show well. The longtime ABC host erupted in a meltdown on social media this week, railing against what he sees as a coordinated attack on left-wing voices in late-night television. But his drama may end up being more entertaining than anything he’s aired in years—and ironically, it could hand ABC the perfect chance to do something unforgettable.

Kimmel called Colbert’s cancellation “a disgrace to free speech” and accused network executives of “cowardice” for “giving in to ratings over righteousness.” But the truth is much simpler: Colbert’s show flopped. Ratings tanked, ad revenue dried up, and viewers fled from his tired monologues built on reheated Trump jokes and smug lectures. Audiences had enough, and the network finally noticed.

But instead of reflecting on that failure, Kimmel chose to double down. He warned that his own show might be next, hinting that ABC would cave to “the same forces” that “silenced” Colbert. Ironically, that comment may have inspired the funniest possible response from ABC: giving Kimmel’s time slot to someone who doesn’t hate half the country.

There’s growing chatter in entertainment circles that ABC is considering a major shakeup. With Colbert gone and Kimmel flailing, the network reportedly sees an opportunity to pivot toward a host who can actually attract viewers—possibly even someone right-of-center. In a television landscape where Fox News’ late-night comedy outpaces its network competitors, the idea isn’t as far-fetched as it once seemed.

Imagine the cultural earthquake if ABC replaced Kimmel with a non-woke comic—someone who isn’t obsessed with identity politics or parroting DNC talking points. That move alone would send Hollywood into convulsions, and the headlines would write themselves: “ABC Goes Rogue.” “Network Dumps Woke Comedy.” “Kimmel Canceled—by His Own Network.”

Kimmel’s defenders are already spinning this as political persecution, but the ratings speak for themselves. His viewership has declined steadily for years, with many Americans tuning him out as he became more partisan and less funny. His show now lags far behind its competitors, and there’s little reason to think he’s capable of turning it around.

And if ABC executives are watching social media, they’re seeing a lot more people celebrating Colbert’s departure than mourning it. The public is hungry for comedy that isn’t drenched in leftist moralizing, and the networks are finally starting to catch on.

The real comedy? Kimmel’s public tantrum may accelerate his own demise. The louder he screams, the more attractive it becomes for ABC to move on—and the more satisfying it would be for viewers who’ve grown sick of being sneered at by millionaire elites pretending to be edgy.

In the end, it’s not about censorship or free speech. It’s about business. And in that world, when you’re no longer funny—or profitable—your time is up. Even Jimmy Kimmel might not be able to joke his way out of that.