Note: LateNighter generally posts late night daily ratings on a two (business) day delay, which is how they are released by Nielsen.
NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was the only 11:35 p.m. program to air a new episode on Friday, and that decision paid off in the ratings.
Per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, Fallon’s Tonight Show averaged more total and P18-49 viewers than its CBS and ABC competition on May 3, 2024, 1,334,000 and 206,000, respectively. The Tonight Show’s 1,334,000 total viewers average on May 3 is -5% from the day before (a new episode), but up +5% from the Friday before (a repeat telecast). The episode’s 206,000 P18-49 viewer average is -16% from the day before, but up +13% from the Friday before. Simu Liu was Fallon’s guest’s on Tonight Show, and WILLOW performed on Friday, May 3.
CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! split second place at 11:35 p.m. on Friday.
CBS televised a repeat of The Late Show’s February 13, 2024 episode this past Friday, which averaged 1,323,000 total viewers and 157,000 P18-49 viewers at 11:35 p.m. That’s -33% in total viewers and -16% in P18-49 viewers from the previous day’s episode (a new one), -16% and -6%, respectively, from the previous Friday (a repeat telecast).
ABC televised a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live’s April 18, 2024 episode this past Friday, which averaged 1,220,000 total viewers and 173,000 P18-49 viewers at 11:35 p.m. That’s -12% in total viewers but +7% in P18-49 viewers from the day before (a new episode), +9% and -8%, respectively, from the Friday before (a repeat telecast).
NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers aired a repeat of its March 14, 2024 episode this past Friday. The program averaged 687,000 total viewers and 135,000 P18-49 viewers at 12:36 a.m. That’s -29% and -8%, respectively, from the previous night’s episode (a new one), but +10% and +13%, respectively, from the previous Friday telecast (a repeat).
CBS’ After Midnight wrapped up a dark week with a repeat of its March 6, 2024 episode. The telecast averaged 557,000 total viewers and 122,000 P18-49 viewers at 12:37 a.m. That’s -7% in total viewers but a whopping +88% in P18-49 viewers from the previous night’s telecast (a repeat), -16% in total viewers and +15% in P18-49 viewers from the previous Friday’s telecast (also a repeat).
Lastly, ABC News’ Nightline aired a new episode this past Friday, which averaged 704,000 total viewers and 83,000 P18-49 viewers at 12:37 a.m. That represents an -8% decline in total viewers and a -30% decline in P18-49 viewers from the day before, +11% in total viewers, and -30% in P18-49 viewers from the previous Friday episode, which was delayed by a half-hour due to NFL Draft coverage.
Live+SD ratings (18-49 demo only)
| Network | Show Name | Viewers | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:35 PM | |||
| ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! (R, 4/18/24) | 173,000 | 2.18 |
| CBS | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (R, 2/13/24) | 157,000 | 1.98 |
| NBC | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 206,000 | 2.59 |
| 12:37 AM | |||
| ABC | Nightline | 83,000 | 1.41 |
| CBS | After Midnight (R, 3/6/24) | 122,000 | 2.26 |
| NBC | Late Night With Seth Meyers (R, 3/14/24) | 135,000 | 2.47 |
(R) = Repeat
Live+SD ratings (All Viewers 2+)
| Network | Show Name | Total Viewers | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:35 PM | |||
| ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! (R, 4/18/24) | 1,220,000 | 3.66 |
| CBS | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (R, 2/13/24) | 1,323,000 | 3.97 |
| NBC | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 1,334,000 | 3.99 |
| 12:37 AM | |||
| ABC | Nightline | 704,000 | 2.85 |
| CBS | After Midnight (R, 3/6/24) | 557,000 | 2.45 |
| NBC | Late Night With Seth Meyers (R, 3/14/24) | 687,000 | 2.98 |
(R) = Repeat
© The Nielsen Company, used under license.
