Weekly Ratings: Jimmy Kimmel Reclaims 11:35 Lead Over Colbert

Late night delivered another event-fueled week of movement in the ratings last week, with ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! reclaiming the top spot at 11:35 p.m., while NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon surged on the strength of a special post-Olympics Friday broadcast.

According to Nielsen Live+3 data, Kimmel averaged 2.45 million total viewers (+4 percent) and 261,000 adults 18–49 (+9 percent) for the week of Feb 1., finishing No. 1 at 11:35 p.m. in both measures. While Kimmel frequently tops the time slot in the demo, the total-viewer win marked the first time he’s led the hour in overall audience against a full week of new Late Show episodes since October.

Kimmel’s edge was boosted by a highly rated Monday night episode featuring an interview with Don Lemon—appearing shortly after his arrest by federal authorities—and rock climber Alex Honnold, a week removed from his Netflix Skyscraper Live event.

CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert finished second in total audience with 2.32 million viewers (–4 percent) and fell to third in the demo (see below), drawing 205,000 adults 18–49 (–4 percent) for the week.

NBC’s Tonight Show posted the biggest demo jump of the week, climbing 46 percent to 213,000 adults 18–49, while rising 18 percent in total viewers to 1.48 million for the week.

Fallon’s spike was fueled by a special Friday night episode that followed the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony—an installment that delivered the show’s highest total audience since November. (The Tonight Show, which typically airs a repeat on Fridays, shifted its schedule last week, airing a repeat on Monday instead.)

At 12:37 a.m., Nightline and Late Night with Seth Meyers shared top honors, with the ABC News program winning the total audience crown, while NBC’s Meyers drew more younger viewers. All told, Nightline logged an average 1.03 million total viewers (+5 percent) and 105,000 adults 18–49 (+20 percent); Late Night averaged 963,000 total viewers (flat week to week) and 114,000 adults 18–49 (–6 percent), with the show preempted Friday by Olympics coverage.

On cable, Fox News’ Gutfeld!, which airs at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT, again delivered the largest total audience among the shows we track, with a nightly average of 3.47 million viewers (+6 percent), while rising 5 percent in the demo to 247,000 adults 18–49. Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live averaged 460,000 viewers (+6 percent) and 118,000 adults 18–49 (–4 percent).

At 11:00 p.m., Comedy Central’s The Daily Show remained strong, averaging 1.10 million total viewers (+2 percent) and 278,000 adults 18–49 (–3 percent). Even with a slight week-to-week dip, the series again claimed the demo crown among the shows we track.

Complete ratings charts for the week of Feb. 1, 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.