Late Night Ratings: Week of May 20, 2024

Note: LateNighter generally posts late night weekly live-plus-three ratings on a three (business) day delay, which is how they are released by Nielsen.

CBS’ late-night programming delivered wins in their respective timeslots, and week-to-week growth in P18-49 viewers for the week of May 20, 2024.

Per Nielsen live-plus-three data, CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert averaged a late night-high 2,183,000 total viewers with 269,000 P18-49 viewers this past week. That’s -4% in total viewers but up +24% in P18-49 viewers compared with the week prior (week of May 13, 2024). The Late Show‘s week of May 20 averages are from four new episodes (Monday through Thursday) and a repeat (Friday).  This was also the true for the week prior.

Per Nielsen live-plus-three data, NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon averaged 1,383,000 total viewers and 221,000 P18-49. That’s -10% in total viewers and -8% in P18-49 viewers from the week prior. A week-to-week decline here makes sense. The Tonight Show‘s week of May 20 averages are from four new episodes (Monday-Thursday) and a repeat on Friday, whereas the program’s week of May 13 averages are from five new episodes (Monday-Friday).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! averaged 1,617,000 total viewers and 205,000 P18-49 viewers for the week of May 20, per live-plus-three data from Nielsen. That places JKL in second among total viewers and third in P18-49. ABC’s 11:35 program aired three new episodes last week (Monday through Wednesday), and rebroadcast old ones on Thursday and Friday. The program was dark the week before (beginning May 13), and did not submit Nielsen data for that week’s rebroadcasts.

CBS’ After Midnight averaged 634,000 total viewers with 142,000 P18-49 viewers per live-plus-three Nielsen data for the week of May 20. That’s up +2% in total viewers and +35% in P18-49 viewers from the week prior. After Midnight aired new episodes on Monday through Thursday, and a repeat on Friday. The same was true the week prior.

NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers was dark for the entire week. Its Monday-Friday rebroadcasts averaged 731,000 total viewers and 125,000 P18-49 viewers. That’s -27% in total viewers and -23% in P18-49 viewers from the week prior, when the show’s ratings were based off of averages from four new episodes (Monday-Thursday) and a repeat (Friday).

ABC’s Nightline averaged 920,000 total viewers with 116,000 P18-49 for the week of May 20. That’s up +24% in total viewers, and +15% in P18-49 viewers from the week prior. Nightline’s week of May 20 averages are based off of four days of new episodes (Monday-Thursday), instead of all five days. ABC News did not submit Friday, May 24 Nightline viewing data to Nielsen; typical of news divisions for episodes airing on or leading up to a federal holiday.

Lastly, for the week of May 20, The Daily Show was hosted by Jon Stewart on Monday, and Michael Kosta Tuesday through Thursday. The program averaged 908,000 total viewers and 181,000 P18-49 viewers across the four days, per Nielsen live-plus-three data. That’s -1% in total viewers, and -2% in P18-49 viewers versus the previous week of new episodes.

Weekly live+3 ratings (18-49 demo)

Weekly live+3 ratings (Viewers 2+)

© The Nielsen Company, used under license.