Are Jimmy Kimmel Live 2025 ratings declining or improving compared to 2024?

1. Major claims pulled from the reporting—what everyone is saying and why it matters

The reporting makes three clear claims: that Jimmy Kimmel Live! enjoyed a late‑2025 lift with Q3 averages above Q2 (including an average of 1.85 million viewers and 243,000 in the 18‑49 demo), that the Brooklyn week averaged about 2.2 million viewers and a 0.22 demo rating, and that an exceptional return episode drew roughly 6.3 million viewers, a one‑off peak. These claims underline two key dynamics: a measurable rebound after a suspension‑related dip and a distinct spike tied to promotional or event episodes rather than steady season‑long growth ^{[1] [3] [4]}.

2. The Brooklyn week: a clear short‑term win but not a season‑long guarantee

Multiple reports highlight Brooklyn week as a high point—up roughly 35% versus the show’s 2022 Brooklyn visit and up more than 40% versus the 2024‑25 season average—and that week led late night in total viewers and adults 18‑49, outpacing competitors for that period. Those gains are concrete for the week in question and demonstrate the show’s capacity to draw larger linear audiences for special events. However, those same sources caution that week‑long performance can be anomalous and doesn’t by itself prove sustained improvement across the whole 2025 calendar ^{[3] [5] [4]}.

3. Quarter‑to‑quarter movement: rebound versus baseline comparisons

Q3 2025 figures show modest growth versus Q2 2025, attributed in part to Kimmel’s late‑September return after suspension and a recovery from earlier repeats. Q3 averages cited—1.85 million viewers and a 243,000 demo—represent a gain from the Q2 baseline (around 1.77 million viewers). That rebound creates the appearance of improving ratings across the second half of 2025, but when compared to Q2 2024 the total‑viewer trend is mixed: one analysis noted a 3% decline in total viewers year‑over‑year while the demo was up 24%, underscoring divergent trends by metric ^{[1] [2]}.

4. Demo versus total viewers: a split story that matters to advertisers

The data consistently show stronger improvement in the adults 18‑49 demo than in raw total viewers. Several pieces report double‑digit demo gains—one source cites a 42–57% increase versus the 2024‑25 season average for the Brooklyn week, and another records a 24% demo rise year‑over‑year for Q2—even where total viewers are flat or slightly down. This matters because advertisers prize the demo; networks can reasonably present the show as strengthening in advertiser‑valuable audiences even if total linear reach hasn’t fully recovered to earlier levels ^{[5] [2] [6]}.

5. One‑off spikes, repeats and context: why headline numbers can mislead

Coverage repeatedly flags contextual drivers: the exceptionally high 6.3 million‑viewer return episode, a week of repeats that depressed interim baselines, and promotional Brooklyn programming that lifted numbers temporarily. These dynamics produce headline gains that may not translate into a stable upward trajectory. Analysts warn that week‑by‑week volatility and event‑driven spikes make season‑ or year‑long comparisons sensitive to timing; the evidence supports improvement in several recent windows but not a definitive, uniform recovery versus all of 2024 ^{[3] [5] [7]}.

6. Bottom line and what to watch next

The consolidated evidence supports the conclusion that Jimmy Kimmel Live! improved on key 2025 measures—especially the advertiser‑valued demo—compared with some 2024 baselines and Q2 2025, with standout weeks like Brooklyn driving much of the headline growth. Yet total‑viewer comparisons to 2024 are mixed and the gains are uneven and event‑driven, so the claim that ratings are simply “improving” requires nuance: the show is recovering and attracting stronger demos, but long‑term stabilization will depend on whether post‑event viewership holds in subsequent weeks and quarters ^{[1] [4]}.