Note: LateNighter generally posts late night daily ratings on a two (business) day delay, which is how they are released by Nielsen.
On Thursday, May 23, CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert out-performed its counterparts in the late night daypart, both in total viewers and P18-49.
Per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, CBS’ 11:35 p.m. juggernaut averaged 1,975,000 total viewers with 222,000 P18-49 this past Thursday. That’s up +15% in total viewers but -9% in P18-49 from the night before (Wednesday, May 22), -7% and +6%, in those respective measurements, from the prior Thursday episode (May 16, 2024). Chris Hemsworth, and James Dyson were Colbert’s guests on May 23. Angie Swan and Lakecia Benjamin sat in with Louis Cato & the Late Show Band once again.
Perhaps The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon viewers started their holiday weekends early, because Thursday’s first-run episode averaged just 1, 222,000 total viewers with 150,000 P18-49. That’s -20% and -42%, respectively, from the night before, -14% and -39%, respectively, from the week before. Chris Pratt, Erin Andrews, and Charissa Thompson were Fallon’s guests on Thursday. Red Clay Strays performed on the program.
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! actually started its holiday weekend early. This past Thursday, the network televised a rebroadcast of its May 7, 2024 episode at 11:35 p.m. The rebroadcast averaged 1,158,000 total viewers with 128,000 P18-49 viewers. That’s -30% in total viewers, and -38% in P18-49 viewers from the night before (a new episode); -18% and -21%, respectively, from the show’s most recent Thursday episode (a new one on May 9, 2024).
CBS’ After Midnight hosted by Taylor Tomlinson was new on Thursday, and averaged 609,000 total viewers with 98,000 P18-49 on Thursday, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s up +10% in total viewers but -14% in P18-49 demo viewers from the night before, up +3% and +11%, respectively, from the prior Thursday. Marcella Arguello, Thomas Lennon, and Sarah Tiana appeared on After Midnight’s May 23 episode.
ABC’s Nightline aired a new episode this past Thursday, May 23, which averaged 838,000 total viewers with 91,000 P18-49 viewers. That represents a -2% drop off in total viewers, and a -11% drop off in P18-49 viewers from the night before. It’s up +23% but -11%, respectively, from the previous Thursday episode.
NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers was dark during the week starting May 20, and televised a rebroadcast of its April 30, 2024 episode on Thursday. The rebroadcast averaged just 582,000 total viewers with 82,000 P18-49 viewers. That’s -28% in total viewers, and -35% in P18-49 viewers from the night before (also a repeat); -35% and -46%, respectively, from previous Thursday episode (a new one).
The Michael Kosta-led Daily Show averaged 350,000 total viewers with just 60,000 P18-49 viewers on Thursday, May 23 at 11 p.m. That’s -21% in total viewers and -47% in P18-49 from the previous night’s episode, -23% and -52%, respectively, from the previous Thursday episode (hosted by Desi Lydic). Thursday is traditionally Daily Show‘s lowest-rated day of the week, and with a holiday weekend on the horizon, substantial viewer erosion was inevitable. John Legend was Kosta’s guest on Thursday’s episode.
Live+SD ratings (18-49 demo only)
| Network | Show Name | Viewers | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 PM | |||
| CC | The Daily Show | 60,000 | 0.68 |
| 11:35 PM | |||
| ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! (R, 5/7/24) | 128,000 | 1.77 |
| CBS | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert | 222,000 | 3.10 |
| NBC | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 150,000 | 2.09 |
| 12:35 AM | |||
| ABC | Nightline (1/2 hour) | 91,000 | 1.76 |
| CBS | After Midnight | 98,000 | 2.01 |
| NBC | Late Night With Seth Meyers (R, 4/30/24) | 82,000 | 1.67 |
Live+SD ratings (All Viewers 2+)
| Network | Show Name | Total Viewers | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 PM | |||
| CC | The Daily Show | 350,000 | 0.86 |
| 11:35 PM | |||
| ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! (R, 5/7/24) | 1,158,000 | 3.61 |
| CBS | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert | 1,975,000 | 6.21 |
| NBC | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 1,222,000 | 3.84 |
| 12:35 AM | |||
| ABC | Nightline (1/2 hour) | 838,000 | 3.62 |
| CBS | After Midnight | 609,000 | 2.82 |
| NBC | Late Night With Seth Meyers (R,4/30/24 ) | 582,000 | 2.68 |
© The Nielsen Company, used under license.
