Late night’s first week back from the holiday break delivered a familiar post–New Year reset, with total viewing rebounding across most of the schedule while younger audiences proved elusive.
According to Nielsen Live+3 data for the week of Jan. 4, 2026, CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert topped the 11:35 p.m. hour in total viewers, averaging 2.33 million—up sharply after two weeks of repeats.
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! followed closely behind with 2.14 million viewers, also benefiting from the return to originals. While total audience levels grew nearly across the board at 11:35 p.m., both ABC and NBC saw softer week-over-week results among younger viewers. Kimmel slipped 11 percent in adults 18–49 to 174,000, while NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon fell by the same margin to 137,000 in the demo.
Fallon averaged 1.09 million total viewers for the week, a sizable jump from the holiday frame when the show aired repeats. CBS posted the strongest demo rebound among the broadcast network shows, with Colbert rising 33 percent to 202,000 adults 18–49.
At 12:37 a.m., NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers also benefited from the return to originals, climbing to 845,000 total viewers (+68 percent) while holding steady week to week in the demo at 117,000. ABC’s Nightline was the lone exception to the broader total-viewer rebound, dipping 2 percent to 899,000 viewers as it aired new episodes against repeat-heavy competition the previous week.
Elsewhere on the schedule, The Daily Show returned to Comedy Central after three weeks off, drawing 880,000 total viewers and 179,000 adults 18–49. Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live also rejoined the lineup, averaging 306,000 viewers and 67,000 in the demo after alternate programming filled its slot over the holidays.
On cable, Fox News’ Gutfeld! surged to 3.05 million total viewers (+47 percent) and 235,000 adults 18–49 (+79 percent), easily leading the late-night field in both measures.
Complete ratings charts for the week of Jan. 4, 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)† 5 first-run episodes | 6.71 | 3,050 | +47% |
| Watch What Happens Live (Bravo)* 4 first-run episodes | 0.74 | 306 | — |
| 11:00 PM | |||
| The Daily Show (COM)* 4 first-run episodes | 2.74 | 880 | — |
| 11:35 PM | |||
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 8.52 | 2,136 | +25% |
| The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 9.38 | 2,327 | +63% |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 4.38 | 1,090 | +39% |
| 12:37 AM | |||
| Nightline (ABC)* 5 first-run episodes | 5.05 | 899 | -2% |
| Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 5.22 | 845 | +68% |
Live+ 3 Ratings — In the Demo (P18-49)
| US Share (%) | US AA Proj (000’s) | Vs Last Wk | |
| 10:00 PM | |||
| Gutfeld! (FNC)† 5 first-run episodes | 2.72 | 235 | +79% |
| Watch What Happens Live (Bravo)* 5 first-run episodes | 0.86 | 67 | — |
| 11:00 PM | |||
| The Daily Show (COM)* 4 first-run episodes | 2.94 | 179 | — |
| 11:35 PM | |||
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 3.61 | 174 | -11% |
| The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 4.26 | 202 | +33% |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 2.84 | 137 | -11% |
| 12:37 AM | |||
| Nightline (ABC)* 5 first-run episodes | 2.23 | 79 | -33% |
| Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC) 4 first-run episodes, 1 repeat | 3.65 | 117 | 0% |
Ratings data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.
I watch Gutfeld , he is not a scumbag like kimmel, or the four eye scumbag Colbert, never will watch a anti American show , who are for the corrupt Democrats, who destroyed America and robbed billions of dollars, had the hell a woman from another country, got into office worth 20 thousand, and now she’s worth , 50 million, Democrats rob the system , and all the late host on ABC , NBC, n CBS praise it , go f – -k yourself
Care to point to us on the doll where those bad Democrats and late night hosts inappropriately touched you, child?
Grow the fuck up, you pathetic crybaby! More and more Americans despise your Dear Toddler Drumpf!
“softer wek ek-over-weeresults among younger viewers” Now I know I’m getting old–I don’t know what wek ek-over-weeresults are!
Gutfeld! and Watch What Happens Live are not Late NIght.