Week of Oct. 21 Late Night Ratings: Colbert Marks Back-to-Back Weeks at No. 1

Note: LateNighter generally posts late night weekly live-plus-three ratings on a three (business) day delay, which is how they are released by Nielsen.

The Nielsen ratings winning streak for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert continued during the week of October 21. CBS’ 11:35 p.m. offering defeated its counterparts for the second consecutive week, both in total viewers and among the key P18-49 demo, according to Nielsen live plus three day data.

CBS’ The Late Show cruised to victory with an average of 2,470,000 total viewers with 275,000 P18-49 for the week beginning Oct. 21. That’s down -1% in total viewers and -2% among P18-49 from the week prior (week of Oct. 14 ), but up +13% in total viewers and +22% among P18-49 from the year-ago week (Oct. 23, 2023). The Late Show‘s week of Oct. 21 Nielsen ratings averages are based on data from four new episodes and a Friday rebroadcast.

After a rerun-filled dark week, NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon returned with new episodes for the week beginning Oct. 21. The Tonight Show went on to take second place in the timeslot among P18-49 (190,000), but remained third in total viewers (1,218,000). The show gained +11% in total viewers and +3% among P18-49 from the week before (a week filled with reruns), but shed -10% and -16%, respectively, from the year-ago week. The Tonight Show‘s week of Oct. 21 Nielsen averages are based on data from four first-run episodes and a Friday rebroadcast.

 ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! was dark this past week, and ABC aired reruns of the program at 11:35 p.m. The five telecasts averaged 1,266,000 total viewers with 189,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-three data. That’s down -35% in total viewers and -17% among P18-49 from the week before (which featured four new episodes), -23% and -23%, respectively, from the year-ago week (which also featured several new episodes).

NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers aired four new episodes (Monday-Thursday) with a Friday rebroadcast this past week, and the 12:35 a.m. telecasts averaged 964,000 total viewers with 151,000 P18-49. That’s up +34% in total viewers, and +13% among P18-49 from the previous week (a rerun-filled dark week for the program), +7% but -2%, respectively, from the year-ago week. 

After The Late Show, CBS’ After Midnight hosted by Taylor Tomlinson averaged 688,000 total viewers with 158,000 P18-49 for the week of Oct. 21. That’s down -4% in total viewers, but up +11% among P18-49 from the week prior. After Midnight‘s Nielsen ratings averages for this past week are based on data from four first-run episodes and a Friday rebroadcast.

Following Jimmy Kimmel Live!, ABC’s late night news program Nightline averaged 861,000 total viewers with 130,000 P18-49 for the week of Oct. 21, per Nielsen live-plus-three data. That’s down -8% in total viewers and -1% among P18-49 from the week prior, -11% and -22%, respectively, from the year-ago week.

Finally, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show had a very strong ratings week, out performing several late-night broadcast offerings in the 18-49 demo. With Jon Stewart sitting down with vp candidate/Gov. Tim Walz on Monday, and Michael Kosta guest hosting Tuesday through Thursday, the show averaged 1,194,000 total viewers with 242,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-three data. That’s up +16% in total viewers and +17% among P18-49 from the week prior (which featured only three new episodes), +175% and +100%, respectively, from the year-ago week (pre-Jon Stewart’s return).

The week’s complete ratings charts follow below.

Weekly live+3 ratings (Viewers 2+)

NetworkShow NameTotal Viewers% Share
11:00 PM
CCThe Daily Show1,194,0003.09
11:35 PM
ABCJimmy Kimmel Live! (R)1,266,0004.49
CBSThe Late Show With Stephen Colbert2,470,0008.43
NBCThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 1,218,0004.16
12:35 AM
ABC*Nightline861,0004.16
CBSAfter Midnight 688,0003.49
NBCLate Night With Seth Meyers 964,0004.89
* = 30 minute program
(R) = Exclusively rebroadcasts

Weekly live+3 ratings (P18-49 Demo)

NetworkShow NameViewers% Share
11:00 PM
CCThe Daily Show242,0002.84
11:35 PM
ABCJimmy Kimmel Live! (R)189,0003.13
CBSThe Late Show With Stephen Colbert275,0004.33
NBCThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 190,0002.97
12:35 AM
ABC*Nightline130,0002.86
CBSAfter Midnight158,0003.65
NBCLate Night With Seth Meyers151,0003.44
* = 30 minute program
(R) = Exclusively rebroadcasts

Ratings Data © The Nielsen Company, used under license. 

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