Jimmy Kimmel returns with what audience members describe as 'emotional' monologue, no apology

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" returns to air Tuesday night, roughly one week after the late night show was suspended by Disney's ABC broadcast network.

The program was initially pulled "indefinitely" following comments by host Kimmel during a show monologue that criticized President Donald Trump's MAGA movement for their reaction to conservative activist Charlie Kirk's killing.

The media industry, fans and critics were eagerly awaiting the comedian's pre-taped monologue as it would be the first time he had publicly addressed the matter. Earlier Tuesday, Kimmel's show posted a photo to Instagram with the caption, "We are back full of love." Kimmel's personal account posted a photo of the host with the late screenwriter Norman Lear, who in 1981 founded People For The American Way, an organization dedicated to First Amendment rights.

Audience members leaving the taping described an "emotional" monologue and a warm reception from fans. Several audience members said Kimmel did not issue an apology during his remarks.

"It was just standing ovation after standing ovation," said Veronica Ament of Fresno, California, who secured her tickets for the taping weeks ago. "My voice is almost gone."

Disney said in a statement Monday it made the decision to suspend production of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" following comments that were "ill-timed and thus insensitive."

Those comments came during Kimmel's monologue last Monday, in reference to Tyler Robinson, who is charged with fatally shooting Kirk on Sept. 10. Kimmel said then the "MAGA gang" was "desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it."

"In between the finger-pointing there was grieving. On Friday the White House flew the flags at half-staff, which got some criticism, but on a human level you can see how hard the president is taking this," he continued, teeing up a clip of Trump on the White House lawn in which the president fields a question on Kirk but swiftly pivots to talking about construction.

Ahead of the Tuesday's taping, protesters and supporters appeared outside the El Capitan Entertainment Centre in Hollywood.

"He should be off the air for another full week if not a full month to think about what he said," Perry Caravello, a YouTuber who was protesting Kimmel's return to air, told CNBC outside the studio Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Gregg Donovan, who donned a black top hat and red blazer, carried a laminated sign welcoming Kimmel back.

"This is America," he said. "I don't think free speech will ever really be threatened." 

Kimmel's show is filmed at the El Capitan Entertainment Centre on Hollywood Boulevard, across from the iconic TCL Chinese Theater. The Hollywood Walk of Fame takes up the sidewalk outside Kimmel's venue, with names as diverse as Roy Disney, Eva Longoria, Kelly Ripa, Paul Rudd and Chris Pratt decorating the pavement.