Weekly Ratings: MLK Holiday Slows Late Night as Most Shows Slip

Late night took a step back in the ratings during the week of January 18, with most shows seeing declines tied in part to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday on Monday. Three programs—The Daily Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!—were dark that night, disrupting what is typically one of the strongest evenings of the week for late-night viewing.

According to Nielsen Live+3 data, CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert still finished first in total viewers for the week At 11:35 pm, averaging 2.15 million, though that marked an 8 percent drop from the previous frame. In adults 18–49, Colbert also led the hour with 178,000 viewers despite a steeper 23 percent decline.

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! followed closely behind in total audience with 2.04 million viewers (–8 percent), while posting the largest demo drop among the broadcast late-night shows, falling 33 percent to 171,000 adults 18–49.

With both Colbert and Kimmel airing repeats on Monday, each show drew roughly half its usual audience compared to their original episodes the previous week, contributing to their softer weekly averages overall.

NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was the only show among those we track to post a weekly gain, edging up 3 percent in the demo to 168,000 adults 18–49. Fallon averaged 1.22 million total viewers for the week, essentially flat compared to the prior period.

At 12:37 am, NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers declined in both measures, slipping to 869,000 total viewers (–6 percent) and 109,000 adults 18–49 (–22 percent). ABC’s Nightline followed a similar trajectory, averaging 891,000 viewers (–12 percent) and 88,000 in the demo (–8 percent).

Earlier in the evening, The Daily Show averaged 784,000 total viewers for the week, down 11 percent, while shedding 9 percent in adults 18–49 to 177,000. The absence of a Monday episode weighed on the show’s weekly performance, as Jon Stewart typically delivers some of its strongest numbers.

At 10:00 pm, Fox News’ Gutfeld! continued to command the largest overall audience among the shows we track, despite modest declines, drawing 2.94 million total viewers (–3 percent) and 193,000 adults 18–49 (–12 percent). Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live also dipped week to week, averaging 314,000 viewers (–9 percent) and 75,000 in the demo (–12 percent).

Complete ratings charts for the week of Jan. 18, 2026, follow below.

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

Live+ 3 Ratings — All Viewers (P2+)

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

Ratings data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.