Weekly Ratings: Colbert Regains Pole Position in Post-Thanksgiving Shakeout

The late-night ratings landscape returned to normal last week after scheduling shifts for Thanksgiving briefly reshuffled the deck.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which aired repeats throughout Thanksgiving week, returned to the air with the biggest rebound of any late-night show, vaulting to 2.60 million viewers (+105 percent) and climbing to 213,000 adults 18–49 (+50 percent). But while Colbert made the strongest week-to-week gains—and finished first in total viewers at 11:35 p.m.—the demo crown still belonged to ABC, where Jimmy Kimmel Live! held a narrow lead with 216,000 adults 18–49.

Kimmel’s overall numbers slid back to typical levels after benefiting from airing a pair of new episodes during Thanksgiving week, averaging 1.87 million viewers (–7 percent) and falling sharply in the demo (–24 percent). NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which aired a full slate of new episodes, followed the same pattern, easing to 1.25 million viewers (–12 percent) and 172,000 adults 18–49 (–39 percent).

At 12:37 a.m., ABC’s Nightline also normalized, drawing 860,000 viewers (–12 percent) and 114,000 in the demo (–23 percent). Late Night with Seth Meyers posted the steepest overall declines, slipping to 695,000 total viewers (–33 percent) and 99,000 adults 18–49 (–44 percent).

Elsewhere, The Daily Show and Watch What Happens Live both returned from Thanksgiving break, with the Comedy Central series drawing 834,000 total viewers and 167,000 adults 18–49, while Andy Cohen’s clubhouse logged 483,000 viewers and 122,000 in the demo. (Rather than airing repeats Thanksgiving week, both Bravo and Comedy Central ran alternate programming.)

Next to Colbert, Fox News’ Gutfeld! was the only other show among those we track to end the week in positive territory, rising to 2.90 million viewers (+26 percent) and 178,000 adults 18–49 (+12 percent).

Complete ratings charts for the week of Nov. 30, 2025, 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.