Rosie O’Donnell Crushed Her ‘Kimmel’ Monologue by Doing What Jimmy Kimmel Doesn’t

What did you expect when Rosie O’Donnell was announced as making her talk show return by substituting for Jimmy Kimmel as a guest host on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live ?

You probably expected O’Donnell, after leaving Donald Trump’s America for Ireland in 2025 ago in search of “a more peaceful life,” to come out swinging at the president. You probably expected O’Donnell to come across like how conservatives paint her — angry and strident, going full blast at Trump’s second-term corruption allegations and policy blunders.

What viewers got instead (video below) during the first night of O’Donnell’s weeklong stint, was so much better and more interesting, a monologue that said a lot about her and even more about what’s lacking in typical late-night discourse. Related Stories TV Adam Scott Says Daughter Had to Watch His 'Office' Audition Tape in Acting Class: "What Not to Do" TV Matt Damon, Jimmy Kimmel Join David Letterman for 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction' at Netflix