Weekly Ratings: Scheduling Quirks Drive Unusual Week in Late Night

Late-night ratings for the week of March 29 were shaped by a series of scheduling shifts, producing a number of outsized gains and drops.

CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert rebounded sharply with a return to original episodes after a week of repeats, while ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers both moved in the opposite direction, airing weeks of encores.

At 11 p.m., The Daily Show also posted gains, though its three-episode week—cut short by an early spring break beginning Thursday—placed greater weight on Jon Stewart’s typically higher-rated Monday broadcast, an advantage unique to the series, which does not air repeats when dark.

According to Nielsen Live+3 ratings data, Late Show led the 11:35 p.m. hour in total viewers, averaging 2.49 million for the week (+102 percent), while rising 21 percent in adults 18–49 to 216,000.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! and NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon split second place at 11:35 p.m., with Kimmel edging Fallon in total viewers while Fallon led in the demo.

With repeats all week, Jimmy Kimmel Live! fell sharply to 1.28 million total viewers (–48 percent) and 121,000 adults 18–49 (–55 percent). The Tonight Show, by contrast, averaged 1.27 million total viewers (–4 percent) and 169,000 adults 18–49 (flat) across four original episodes and one repeat.

At 12:37 a.m., NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, also in repeats for the week, declined to 720,000 total viewers (–19 percent) and 111,000 adults 18–49 (–14 percent). ABC’s Nightline averaged 877,000 total viewers (–13 percent) and 71,000 in the demo (–32 percent).

The Daily Show again led the week in the demo, averaging 301,000 adults 18–49 (+7 percent) alongside 1.19 million total viewers (+15 percent) across three original episodes, with Stewart’s Monday installment again pacing the week.

Fox News’ Gutfeld! continued to deliver the largest total audience among the shows we track, averaging 3.35 million total viewers (–4 percent) and 292,000 adults 18–49 (+7 percent) across five original episodes.

Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live averaged 350,000 total viewers (+4 percent) and 95,000 adults 18–49 (+3 percent).

Complete ratings charts for the week of March 29, 2026, follow below.

Note: Time period listed is the most common airtime for each show.

Live+ 3 Ratings — In the Demo (P18-49)

Ratings data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.