Late Night Ratings: Thursday, July 18, 2024

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

The broadcast networks covered former President Trump’s GOP presidential nomination speech live on Thursday night — a speech which lasted deep into the night. The speech and post-speech coverage caused the start of late-night talk shows to be delayed by more than an hour.

As one might have guessed, this delay resulted in relatively small total audiences for each late night offering.

Still, someone had to win the late-night ratings race for Thursday, July 18, and per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert took the top spot.

Starting at 12:49 a.m., The Late Show’s July 18 episode veraged the most total viewers and most P18-49 viewers in late-night with 1,086,000 and 134,000, respectively. That represents a loss of -21% in total viewers and -3% in P18-49 from the day before (July 17); as well as -40% and -14%, respectively, from the previous Thursday (July 11). Sen. Bernie Sanders joined Colbert on the July 18 Late Show. OneRepublic performed on the program.

The Thursday, July 18 episode of NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’s started at 12:50 a.m., and went on to average 720,000 total viewers with 128,000 P18-49 viewers, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s -26% and -9%, respectively, from the day before. The episode dropped by -46% and -47%, respectively, from the previous Thursday. Dave Bautista, and Shawn Levy made guest appearances on the Thursday, July 18 Tonight Show. Glass Animals performed.

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! started at 12:53 a.m. ET, and with Anthony Anderson once again serving as guest-host, the Thursday, July 18 episode averaged 750,000 total viewers with 131,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s -20% in total viewers but +9% in P18-49 from the day before; -38% and -34%, respectively, from the previous Thursday (when Kumail Nanjiani guest-hosted the program at its usual 11:35 p.m. start time). Ken Jeong, and Kevin Bludso joined Anderson on Thursday’s Kimmel. Remi Wolf performed on the program.

Following The Tonight Show, NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers averaged 578,000 total viewers with 112,000 P18-49 at 1:52 a.m., per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s -14% and +1%, respectively, from the day before; -34% and -34%, respectively from the previous Thursday. Glen Powell, and Anna Sawai were Meyers’ Late Show guests this past Thursday. José Medeles wrapped up his stint sitting in with the 8G Band.

Following The Late Show, CBS’ After Midnight averaged just 414,000 total viewers with 62,000 P18-49 at 1:51 a.m., per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s -15% and -13%, respectively, from the day before; -20% and -11%, respectively, from the previous Thursday episode. Mandy Moore, Chris Sullivan, and Milana Vayntrub participated in the Thursday, July 18 installment of After Midnight.

Following Kimmel, ABC News’ Nightline averaged 481,000 total viewers with 88,000 P18-49 at 1:55 a.m., per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s -19% in total viewers, but +11% in P18-49 viewers from the day before; -39% and -36%, respectively, from the Thursday prior.

Jordan Klepper guest-hosted the Thursday, July 18 episode of The Daily Show, and the 11:30 p.m. telecast averaged 424,000 total viewers with 75,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s -10% and +4%, respectively, from the day before (guest-hosted by Ronny Chieng). The Daily Show did not air on the Thursday prior (July 11).

Live+SD ratings (18-49 demo only)

Live+SD ratings (All Viewers 2+)

© The Nielsen Company, used under license.