Late night’s 11:35 p.m. ratings race delivered another split decision the week of March 1, with CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert topping the hour in total viewers, while ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! led among younger viewers.
According to Nielsen Live+3 ratings data, The Late Show averaged 2.43 million total viewers for the week (+1 percent), enough to lead the broadcast field. Jimmy Kimmel Live! finished second with 2.28 million viewers (+5 percent) but led the hour among adults 18–49, drawing 263,000 viewers (+17 percent) to Colbert’s 219,000 (+5 percent).
NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon also saw growth last week, averaging 1.35 million total viewers (+10 percent) and 191,000 adults 18–49 (+29 percent) across four original episodes and one repeat.
At 12:37 a.m., NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers averaged 979,000 total viewers (+2 percent) and 152,000 adults 18–49 (+21 percent). ABC’s Nightline also posted gains, rising 11 percent in total viewers to 977,000 while jumping 27 percent in the demo to 124,000 adults 18–49.
On cable, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show averaged 1.03 million total viewers (–7 percent) and 245,000 adults 18–49 (–7 percent) across four original episodes.
Earlier in the evening, Fox News’ Gutfeld! again drew the largest overall audience among the shows we track, averaging 3.73 million total viewers (+10 percent) and 315,000 adults 18–49 (+38 percent) across four new episodes. The show was preempted Monday night by Fox News’ Iran war coverage but benefited from the broader surge in cable news viewership tied to the conflict.
Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live averaged 367,000 total viewers (–17 percent) and 92,000 adults 18–49 (–19 percent) across five new episodes.
Complete ratings charts for the week of March 1, 2026, follow below.
Note: Time period listed is the most common airtime for each show.
Live+ 3 Ratings — All Viewers (P2+)
| Avg Share (%) | Avg Viewers (000’s) | Vs Last Wk | |
| 10:00 PM | |||
| Gutfeld! (FNC)† 4 first-run episodes | 7.71 | 3,733 | +10% |
| Watch What Happens Live (Bravo)* 5 first-run episodes | 0.78 | 367 | -17% |
| 11:00 PM | |||
| The Daily Show (COM)* 4 first-run episodes | 2.95 | 1,025 | -7% |
| 11:35 PM | |||
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 8.42 | 2,279 | +5% |
| The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 8.97 | 2,432 | +1% |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 5.00 | 1,353 | +10% |
| 12:37 AM | |||
| Nightline (ABC)* 5 first-run episodes | 4.97 | 977 | +11% |
| Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 5.44 | 979 | +2% |
Live+ 3 Ratings — In the Demo (P18-49)
| US Share (%) | US AA Proj (000’s) | Vs Last Wk | |
| 10:00 PM | |||
| Gutfeld! (FNC)† 4 first-run episodes | 3.35 | 315 | +38% |
| Watch What Happens Live (Bravo)* 5 first-run episodes | 1.02 | 92 | -19% |
| 11:00 PM | |||
| The Daily Show (COM)* 4 first-run episodes | 3.62 | 245 | -7% |
| 11:35 PM | |||
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 4.90 | 263 | +17% |
| The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 4.10 | 219 | +5% |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 3.53 | 191 | +29% |
| 12:37 AM | |||
| Nightline (ABC)* 5 first-run episodes | 3.18 | 124 | +27% |
| Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 4.23 | 152 | +21% |
Ratings data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.
Jimmy Kimmel will likely be the recipient of a ratings bump once Stephen’s show ends.
I LOVE Gutfield!
Sorry, not sorry to tell you!