Late Night Ratings: Thursday, May 9, 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 and NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon split first place in the late night ratings on Thursday, May 9, 2024.

Per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, The Late Show averaged 1,981,000 total viewers with 175,000 P18-49 viewers on May 9 at 11:35 p.m. That’s up +6% in total viewers, but -32% in P18-49 compared to the day before (Wednesday, May 8); +1% in total viewers and -7% in P18-49 from the previous Thursday’s episode (May 2, 2024). Ryan Gosling and Desi Lydic were Colbert’s guests on Thursday, May 9.

The Tonight Show averaged 1,426,000 total linear viewers and a late night-high 265,000 P18-49 viewers on May 9. That’s -13% in total viewers but +4% in P18-49 viewers from the day before; +2% and +9%, respectively, from the previous Thursday episode. Michael Phelps, and Jon Glaser were Fallon’s guests, and Laufey performed on the Thursday, May 9 edition of The Tonight Show.

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! took third place at 11:35 p.m., having averaged 1,405,000 total viewers with 162,000 P18-49 viewers on Thursday. That’s -6% in total viewers, and -32% P18-49 viewers from the day before; +2% in total viewers and +1% in P18-49 from the Thursday before. Chris Pine, and Bert Kreischer were Kimmel’s guests on Thursday. Andra Day performed.

NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers won the 12:35 a.m. timeslot by a substantial margin for the second consecutive day, having averaged 965,000 total viewers and 185,000 P18-49 viewers at 12:36 a.m. The program shed -9% in total viewers but gained +11% in P18-49 viewers from the day before; +0.4% in total viewers and +26% in P18-49 relative to the previous Thursday episode. Tiffany Haddish, and Cam Heyward were Meyers’ guests on Thursday, May 9. 

CBS’ After Midnight averaged 657,000 total viewers with 88,000 P18-49 viewers at 12:37 a.m. That’s up +6% in total viewers but -31% in P18-49 viewers from the day before; +10% in total viewers and +35% in P18-49 viewers from the previous Thursday episode, which was a repeat. Jessica Kirson, Eddie Pepitone, and and Steph Tolev appeared on the Taylor Tomlinson-led program last Thursday, May 9.

ABC’s Nightline had a down night, having averaged 696,000 total viewers and 82,000 P18-49 viewers at 12:37 a.m. That’s -16% in total viewers and -35% in P18-49 viewers from the previous day; -9% in total viewers and -31% in P18-49 versus the previous Thursday’s broadcast.

Comedy Central’s The Daily Show was hosted by Jon Stewart this past Thursday, and the episode averaged 459,000 total viewers and 84,000 P18-49 viewers at 11 p.m., per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s -0.4% in total viewers, and -22% in P18-49 from the day before (guest-hosted by Jordan Klepper). Compared to the most recent Thursday episode (April 25), however, The Daily Show gained +21% in total viewers and +1% in P18-49. Compared to the most recent Jon Stewart-led Daily Show (Monday, April 22), Stewart’s Thursday, May 9 episode shed -33% in total viewers and -47% in P18-49 viewers. Harvard polling director John Della Volpe was Stewart’s guest on Thursday, May 9.

Live+SD ratings (18-49 demo only)

Live+SD ratings (All Viewers 2+)

© The Nielsen Company, used under license.