Late night’s final competitive week of 2025 delivered another photo finish at 11:35 p.m., with ABC and CBS once again splitting top honors.
According to Nielsen Live+3 data for the week of Dec. 14–20, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert narrowly edged out Jimmy Kimmel Live! in total viewers, finishing ahead by just 9,000 viewers. Kimmel, meanwhile, continued to dominate among adults 18–49, extending his demo lead during the final week of original episodes before the holiday break.
Colbert averaged 2.34 million nightly viewers for the week, down 4 percent from the prior frame but still enough to claim the top spot at 11:35 p.m. Kimmel was close behind at 2.33 million viewers, posting a 7 percent week-over-week increase. In the demo, Jimmy Kimmel Live! widened its advantage with 252,000 adults 18–49 (+12 percent), well ahead of Colbert’s 181,000 (–16 percent).
NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon finished the week with mixed results. The show dipped 4 percent in total viewers to 1.31 million, but posted a sizable jump in adults 18–49, rising 17 percent to 178,000.
At 12:37 a.m., NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers climbed to 963,000 total viewers (+12 percent) and 133,000 adults 18–49 (+9 percent).
ABC’s Nightline was largely steady in total audience at 993,000 viewers (+1 percent), while posting a stronger week in the demo with 132,000 adults 18–49 (+18 percent).
On cable, Fox News’ Gutfeld! averaged 2.69 million viewers (–1 percent) and 183,000 adults 18–49 (flat week to week).
Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live slid to 366,000 total viewers (–13 percent) and 90,000 adults 18–49 (–8 percent).
The Daily Show did not air during the week, having wrapped its 2025 run a week earlier, with Comedy Central filling the 11:00 p.m. slot with alternate programming.
Complete ratings charts for the week of Dec. 14, 2025, 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 | 5.84 | 2,690 | -1% |
| Watch What Happens Live (Bravo)* 5 first-run episodes | 0.75 | 366 | -13% |
| 11:35 PM | |||
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 9.71 | 2,334 | +7% |
| The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 9.12 | 2,343 | -4% |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 5.01 | 1,305 | -4% |
| 12:37 AM | |||
| Nightline (ABC)* 5 first-run episode | 5.77 | 993 | +1% |
| Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 5.74 | 963 | +12% |
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 | 2.08 | 183 | flat |
| Watch What Happens Live (Bravo)* 5 first-run episodes | 0.91 | 90 | -8% |
| 11:35 PM | |||
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 5.58 | 252 | +12% |
| The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 3.65 | 181 | -16% |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 3.50 | 178 | +17% |
| 12:37 AM | |||
| Nightline (ABC)* 5 first-run episodes | 3.97 | 132 | +18% |
| Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 4.18 | 133 | +9% |
Ratings data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.
