Which late-night TV show has the highest ratings in 2025?

Checked on September 23, 2025
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1. Summary of the results

The question of which late-night TV show has the highest ratings in 2025 yields conflicting answers from the provided analyses. According to [1], [2], and [3], 'Gutfeld!' is the top-rated late-night show, with an average of 3.29 million viewers and 238,000 in the demo, and has seen significant gains year-over-year [1] [2] [3]. However, as reported by [4] and [1], The Late Show with Stephen Colbert had the highest ratings in the 11:35 PM time slot, with 2.42 million viewers. It is essential to note that the time slots considered by the sources differ, which may contribute to the discrepancy in the results [1] [4].

  • Key points from the analyses include:

'Gutfeld!' has the highest ratings in the 10 pm slot [1] [2] [3]

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has the highest ratings in the 11:35 PM time slot [4] [1]

There has been a significant decline in viewership for late-night shows over the past 10 years, particularly in the 18-49 demographic [5]

**2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints**

A crucial aspect missing from the original statement is the consideration of different time slots and their impact on the ratings [1] [4]. **As mentioned by [5]**, the decline in viewership for late-night shows over the past 10 years is a significant factor to consider when evaluating the current ratings. Alternative viewpoints, such as the financial performance of the shows, are also essential to understanding the overall picture [5]. **For instance, [5] reports** that despite having high ratings, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was cancelled due to financial losses.

Important context to consider:

Time slots and their impact on ratings [1] [4]

Decline in viewership over the past 10 years [5]

  • Financial performance of the shows [5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading due to the lack of consideration of different time slots and the decline in viewership over the past 10 years [1] [5]. As noted by [5], the focus solely on ratings may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the late-night TV show landscape. The sources that report 'Gutfeld!' as the top-rated show may benefit from promoting this narrative, while the sources that report The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as the top-rated show may have a different agenda [1] [4]. Ultimately, it is crucial to consider multiple sources and evaluate the potential biases and misinformation [1] [2] [3] [4] [5].

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