Colbert’s Final DNC Episode Draws More Viewers Than Fallon and Kimmel Combined

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

Coverage of the fourth and final night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention—highlighted by VP Kamala Harris’ presidential nomination acceptance speech—continued past 11:35 p.m. ET on Thursday, once again pushing most late-night show start times beyond their traditional start times. That said, the shows posted day-to-day gains in total viewers for the second consecutive day.

Broadcasting from Chicago, CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert delivered more total viewers than its ABC and NBC timeslot competition combined. The Thursday, August 22 episode, which started at 11:58 p.m., averaged 1,968,000 total viewers with 251,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s up +13% in total viewers but -9% in P18-49 viewers from the previous night’s Late Show (starting at 12:21 a.m. ET); +6% and +25%, respectively, from the previous Thursday’s episode (which aired in the show’s usual 11:35 p.m. timeslot). Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Chicago native Jennifer Hudson, and Chicago Cubs teammates Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, and Jameson Taillon all appeared on Thursday’s episode. Mavis Staples, and Jeff Tweedy performed.

Jon Stewart hosted a post-DNC Daily Show live from Chicago on Thursday, and per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, the episode averaged 642,000 total viewers with 133,000 P18-49 at 11 p.m. That’s +7% and -6%, respectively, from Wednesday’s episode (guest-hosted by Jordan Klepper); +27% and +21%, respectively, from the previous Thursday’s episode.

The other late night shows hosted Thursday episodes from their traditional stomping grounds. NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon didn’t start until 12:05 a.m. ET, and averaged 891,000 total viewers with 184,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s up +25% in total viewers, and an impressive +111% in P18-49 demo viewers from the previous day’s low-rated episode (which started at 12:30 a.m. ET). However, relative to the most recent Thursday episode (which aired in the show’s usual 11:35 p.m. timeslot), the August 22 episode shed -29% in total viewers and -6% in P18-49. Zoë Kravitz, Sabrina Carpenter, and Melanie Hamrick made guest appearances on the Thursday, August 22 Tonight Show.

RuPaul wrapped up his week as Jimmy Kimmel Live! guest host on Thursday, and that episode averaged 990,000 total viewers with 169,000 P18-49 at 12:03 a.m. ET, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s up +15% in total viewers and +44% in P18-49 viewers from the previous day’s episode (starting at 12:22 a.m. ET); but -16% and -1%, respectively, from the previous Thursday’s episode (airing in its usual timeslot). Bill Skarsgård, FKA Twigs, and Gabby Thomas made guest appearances on the August 22 Kimmel. Pepe Aguilar performed.

NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers‘ Thursday, August 22 episode averaged 595,000 total viewers with 109,000 P18-49 at 1:08 a.m., per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s +11% in total viewers and +27% in P18-49 viewers from the previous day’s episode (which started at 1:33 a.m.); but -23% and -17%, respectively, from the most recent Thursday episode (which aired in its usual 12:35 a.m. slot). Amy Poehler made a guest appearance on the program this past Thursday, and Fred Armisen led the 8G Band for what was its final performance. Bob Mould sat in with the band.

Following The Late Show, CBS’ After Midnight re-aired its July 23, 2024 episode beginning at 1 a.m., and it averaged 633,000 total viewers with 117,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s +8% in total viewers, but -2% in P18-49 viewers from the day before (a rebroadcast starting at 1:23 a.m. ET); +6% and -15%, respectively, from the Thursday before (a 12:35 a.m. rebroadcast).

Following Kimmel, ABC News’ Nightline averaged 624,000 total viewers with 101,000 P18-49 at 1:05 a.m., per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s % and %, respectively, from the day before (when Nightline started at 1:24 a.m. ET); % and %, respectively, from the prior Thursday (when the show aired in its usual 12:35 a.m. slot)

Live+SD ratings (18-49 demo only)

Live+SD ratings (All Viewers 2+)

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