Over to you, Bob.

The premiere episode of SNL in 2001 took place eighteen days after the 9/11 attacks. There's a lot I could try to write about all of the feelings going on at that time, but that's not the point of this post, so I'll use a shortcut to bridge the thought I want to express now. It was emotionally and utterly surreal.

On September 29, 2001, the episode opened with a large cadre of policemen and firefighters flanking New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and city officials who we were able to recognize from their many appearances on live television on the day of the attacks. Faces we would never have known existed if not for that day and the 24/7 news cycle that followed and never stopped.

The show opened without a sound from the audience. The mayor spoke: "Our hearts are broken, but they are beating, and they are beating stronger than ever. New Yorkers are unified. We will not yield to terrorism. We will not let our decisions be made out of fear."

The speech was followed by Paul Simon singing "The Boxer," and when he was done, the Mayor spoke once more. "Having our city's institutions up and running sends a message that New York City is open for business."

Lorne Michaels then made a rare appearance on camera for a now-iconic exchange. "Can we be funny?" Lorne asked. "Why start now?" Giuliani replied. And then he looked into the camera and kicked off the episode with the show's opening catchphrase.

Tomorrow, Jimmy Kimmel is expected to return to late-night broadcast television after days off-air. I don't think I need to play back what happened and how we got here. That's not as important as what comes next. As I write this, Disney has lost $4 billion in market value since turning Kimmel's show off. There will be at least one book written about the last five days of boardroom and backroom drama. And if we're lucky, we'll get a version of this story as a reboot of the ABC Afterschool Special.

What happened last week was nothing less than a direct attack on the most important and fundamental right of being an American citizen: our Freedom of Speech. It is número uno on the books for a reason. It is a right that even some of the strongest democracies elsewhere in the world do not have at the same level that we do or are supposed to. Our Freedom of Speech has been fought for on the battlefield and in our courts—hundreds of cases if not more since 1799.

So when a seedy government bureaucrat threatens to quell this freedom, it's a pretty big fucking deal. I hope I don't have to tell you that, and I only use that language to make my point of view very clear. In case you're curious, Freedom of the Press comes next, and that thing about owning guns—well, I'd drop that down about ten places if it were up to me.

Getting back to what's important now: the brazen attack meant to probe the fences by brown-shirt-wearing lizard brains is an attack on the mantle-level foundation of the country. It is the supporting pillar for the entire system. If you take away the First Amendment wholesale, or as in this case, bit by bit, that's it. Game over. Table stakes for war.

In 2001, we were brutally attacked in a way and on a scale unfathomable just the day before. While still in shock, we didn't seek a return to normalcy—that was all but destroyed. What we needed was permission to take a break, and it was graciously given by the men and women who had just come from the front lines of a war that would last twenty years. Every person on stage that Saturday evening had experienced horrific trauma and personal loss, but they showed up togive us a pause when they were the ones who needed it the most.

Trump's attack on the First Amendment was nowhere near as traumatic as 9/11, but the repercussions and further escalation will bring about a level of destruction that physical violence cannot inflict.

Tomorrow night, when the cameras turn on, I want to see Jimmy Kimmel flanked by the Disney's leadership, especially their crack team of lawyers, which I know they have. I want the CEO, Bob Iger, give a short speech on camera on how important the First Amendment is to the nation, and how vital it is that we take a big stand at even the slightest attack. Adding how much more important the First Admentment is than share value and money. Then turning to Kimmel, he asks him to carry on his mission and purpose of giving Americans a pause from the growing stress and turmoil of the rise of fascism. Ironically—as late night is always prone to point out—in the very country that became a superpower by fighting the Third Reich eighty-five years ago. They should then come together, side by side, calling on Americans to draw the line by practicing and engaging in free speech and dare the federal government to try and cross that line again.

Unfortunately, none of this will happen. Though I'd bet money that if Iger did this, Disney's share price would come back five-fold. We need champions right now, and tomorrow night is a perfect softball moment for a new one to rise and take a stand.

Until we get that moment, good night, and good luck.