Daily Ratings: CMA Awards Boost Kimmel to Time Slot Win (Nov. 20, 2024)

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

ABC’s prime time presentation of the 2024 CMA Awards on Wednesday night appears to have had a halo effect on the network’s late-night programming, as Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Nightline both went on to average more total viewers than their respective time slot counterparts.

Per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, Kimmel averaged an 11:35 p.m. time slot-high of 1,796,000 total viewers, with 228,000 viewers 18-49 on Wednesday, November 20. That’s up +27% in total viewers and +25% among P18-49 from the night before, and +14% and +54%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday’s episode. Kimmel’s guests on the post-CMAs program were Blake Shelton and Ralph Macchio.

At the same time, CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert took second place, both in total viewers and among viewers 18-49. The Late Show‘s Wednesday, Nov. 20 episode averaged 1,714,000 total viewers with 206,000 P18-49. That’s down -21% in total viewers and -20% among P18-49 from the night before, and -1% and +5%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday’s episode. Paul Mescal was Colbert’s guest. Elvis Costello and T Bone Burnett (known by the fictional alter egos The Coward Brothers) performed together on the program.

Despite a third place finish, NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon continued to see strong ratings on Wednesday, partly driven by its NBC One Chicago Wednesdays lead-in. The Nov. 20 Tonight Show averaged 1,418,000 total viewers, with 201,000 viewers aged 18-49 Wednesday night. That’s up +39% in total viewers and +25% among P18-49 from the night before, -0.5% and -0.5%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday’s episode. Fallon’s guests on the Wednesday, Nov. 20 Tonight Show were Richard Gere and SNL‘s Bowen Yang. Jin performed.

Following The Tonight Show, this past Wednesday’s episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers averaged 881,000 total viewers with 133,000 P18-49. That’s up +14% in total viewers and +3% among P18-49 from Tuesday, but -5% and -5%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday’s episode. Brian Williams and Bridget Everett were Meyers’ guests.

Airing after The Late Show, the Wednesday, Nov. 20 episode of After Midnight averaged 549,000 total viewers with 102,000 P18-49 on CBS. That’s down -18% in total viewers and -29% in the P18-49 demo from Tuesday’s episode, and -9% and -20%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday’s episode. Johnny Pemberton, Nichole Sakura, and Matt Braunger were Taylor Tomlinson’s guests on the comedy panel program.

Following Kimmel, the Nov. 20 edition of Nightline averaged 988,000 total viewers with 114,000 P18-49 on ABC. That’s up +29% in total viewers and +31% among P18-49 from Tuesday’s episode, +31% and +75%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday’s episode.

Lastly, the Wednesday, Nov. 20 edition of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show—hosted by Desi Lydic—averaged 397,000 total viewers with 106,000 viewers 18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s up +8% in total viewers and +25% among P18-49 from Tuesday’s episode (also hosted by Lydic), and -23% and +1%, respectively, from the week-ago episode (hosted by Jordan Klepper). Lydic’s guest on Wednesday’s Daily Show was singer/songwriter/actor Joey McIntyre.

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.