Late Night Ratings: Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Note: LateNighter’s late night daily ratings reports are drawn from Nielsen live-plus-same-day data and do not take include delayed and/or streaming views. They are generally posted on a two (business) day delay, which is how they are released by Nielsen.

Driven by an appearance from MSNBC star Rachel Maddow, CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert captured first place in the late night ratings race on Wednesday, September 18. Colbert dominated the 11:35 p.m. hour, not only in total viewers but also among Adults 18-49.

Wednesday’s Late Show averaged 2,109,000 total viewers with 228,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s up +20% in total viewers and +19% in P18-49 viewers from the previous night’s episode; up +8% but down -10%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday episode (Sept. 11).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! came in second place at 11:35 p.m. on Wednesday, having averaged 1,384,000 total viewers with 148,000 P18-49 in the timeslot. That’s -28% and -31%, respectively, from Tuesday’s episode; up +0.2% but -13%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday. Jon Hamm, and Maisy Stella were Kimmel’s guests on Wednesday’s episode. Glass Animals performed.

NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon finished third at 11:35 p.m., having averaged 1,043,000 total viewers with 145,000 P18-49. That’s -5% in total viewers and -28% in P18-49 from the night before; down -12% and -34%, respectively, from the Wednesday before. Eva Mendes, and Zachary Quinto were Fallon’s guests. Brandi Denise performed standup.

NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers won the 12:35 a.m. slot this past Wednesday, both in total viewers (767,000) and in the P18-49 demo (112,000). With Collin Farrell and Ashley Park making guest appearances, the Wednesday, Sept. 18 Late Night shed -4% in total viewers and -26% among P18-49 relative to the previous night’s highly-rated episode. Relative to the week-ago episode, Meyers shed -4% in total viewers and -21% among P18-49.

ABC News’ half-hour Nightline finished in second place at 12:35 a.m. Wednesday’s episode averaged 762,000 total viewers with 101,000 P18-49. That’s down -18% in total viewers but up +16% in P18-49 viewers from the night before; up +7% and +26%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday’s Nightline.

CBS’ After Midnight hosted by Taylor Tomlinson averaged 628,000 total viewers with 98,000 P18-49 on Wednesday. That’s up +2% in total viewers, and +5% in P18-49 viewers from the night before. The Sept. 18 After Midnight also gained +5% in total viewers, but shed -15% in P18-49 from the previous Wednesday’s episode. Jay Pharoah, Taran Killam, Mary Lynn Rajskub appeared on the program.

Comedy Central’s The Daily Show was guest hosted by Ronny Chieng this past Wednesday, and the episode averaged 518,000 total viewers with 132,000 P18-49; a solid non-Stewart night for the program. Wednesday’s Daily Show improved by +16% in total viewers and +28% among P18-49 from the night before (also guest hosted by Chieng); +11% and +26%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday episode. Daniel Dae Kim joined Chieng on the Wednesday, Sept. 18 edition of The Daily Show.

Wednesday’s complete ratings charts follow below.

Live+SD ratings (All Viewers 2+)

Live+SD ratings (18-49 demo only)

Ratings data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.