Late Night Ratings: Thursday, August 15, 2024

Note: LateNighter generally posts late night daily ratings on a two (business) day delay, which is how they are released by Nielsen. 

CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was late night’s No. 1 show this past Thursday, winning by a substantial margin in average total viewers (P2+), but by only +5,000 in P18-49 viewers.

The Late Show averaged 1,853,000 total viewers with 201,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data on Thursday, August 15. That represents a -10% decline in total viewers, and an -11% decline among P18-49 viewers from the previous day’s first-run episode. The show gained +92% and +68%, respectively, from the previous Thursday’s Late Show (which was a rebroadcast). Sean Hayes, Billie Eilish, and Hiroyuki Sanada were Colbert’s guests this past Thursday. Koe Wetzel performed on the program with Jessie Murph.

NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon averaged 1,257,000 total viewers with 196,000 P18-49 this past Thursday at 11:35 p.m., per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s +4% and -4%, respectively, from the Wednesday’s episode; -4% and +8%, respectively, from the most recent Thursday episode (July 25). The Tonight Show was preempted for the Olympics the past two weeks. Halle Berry, and Ben Schwartz made guest appearances on the Thursday August 15 episode.  Ravyn Lenae performed on the program.

Jeff Goldblum wrapped up his week guest-hosting ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, and the episode averaged 1,179,000 total viewers with 170,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s +31% and +31%, respectively, from the previous day’s episode; +31% and +48%, respectively, from the previous Thursday’s Kimmel (a rebroadcast). Awkwafina, and Paul W. Downs and made guest appearances on the Thursday, August 15 Kimmel. Remi Wolf performed on the program.

Hitting fast-forward, the Thursday, August 15 episode of NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers averaged a 12:35 a.m. timeslot-high 771,000 total viewers to go along with 132,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s -7% and -6%, respectively, from the day before; gaining +8% and +58%, respectively, from the most recent Thursday telecast (a rebroadcast on July 25). Late Night with Seth Meyers was preempted for Olympics programming the past two weeks, and aired reruns the week before. Jean Smart, and Jonathan Bailey were Meyers’ Late Night guests this past Thursday. Todd Sucherman sat in with the 8G Band.

Following Colbert, CBS’ re-aired After Midnight‘s June 19, 2024 episode, and the telecast averaged 598,000 total viewers with a 12:35 a.m. timeslot-high 137,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s +4% and +30%, respectively, from day’s telecast (also a rebroadcast); +55% and +46%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday’s telecast (another rebroadcast).

Following Kimmel, ABC News’ Nightline averaged 736,000 total viewers with 94,000 P18-49 at 12:35 a.m., per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s +28% and +24%, respectively, from Wednesday’s episode; +28% and +65%, respectively, from the previous Thursday’s episode.

Guest-hosted by Desi Lydic, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show averaged 506,000 total viewers with 110,000 P18-49 at 11 p.m. this past Thursday, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s a substantial improvement from Wednesday’s Daily Show, both in total viewers (+28%) and among P18-49 (+53%). The Thursday, August 15 Daily Show also improved by +72% in total viewers and +90% in P18-49 viewers from the previous Thursday’s episode. Brittney Cooper, and Rebecca Traister were Lydic’s guests on the program.

Live+SD ratings (18-49 demo only)

Live+SD ratings (All Viewers 2+)

© The Nielsen Company, used under license.