How were kimmels ratings compared to other late night shows

Checked on September 22, 2025
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1. Summary of the results

The ratings of Jimmy Kimmel Live! have been compared to other late-night shows, with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert leading in total viewers, averaging 2.42 million viewers, followed by Jimmy Kimmel Live! with 1.77 million viewers, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with 1.19 million viewers [1]. In the 18-49 demographic, Jimmy Kimmel Live! had the highest ratings among the late-night shows, with 220,000 viewers, surpassing The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's 219,000 viewers [2]. However, it is also reported that Jimmy Kimmel Live! lost 72% of its key demographic audience over the past decade, with the show's share of this demographic declining from 0.68 in 2013-14 to 0.16 in 2024-25 [3]. Additionally, Gutfeld! on Fox News had the highest ratings among all late-night shows, averaging 3.2 million total viewers in 2025, compared to Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s 1.6 million [4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some sources highlight the decline of late-night TV shows, with Jimmy Kimmel Live! losing 72% of its key demographic audience over the past decade [3], while others note that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was the most-watched late-night television show, averaging 2.42 million viewers [1]. Alternative viewpoints suggest that the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show by ABC due to comments made about Charlie Kirk's assassination and President Donald Trump's reaction to his death highlights the fragile state of late-night TV [5]. It is also noted that young people tend not to watch late-night television or catch clips on platforms like TikTok the next day [1]. Furthermore, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon had an average of 1.19 million views, which is lower than Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s 1.77 million viewers [1]. The fact that Gutfeld! on Fox News had the highest ratings among all late-night shows, averaging 3.2 million total viewers in 2025, is also an important context to consider [4].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement does not provide a clear context for the comparison of Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s ratings to other late-night shows, which may lead to misinformation [1]. Some sources may have a bias towards Jimmy Kimmel Live!, highlighting its high ratings in the 18-49 demographic, while others may have a bias towards The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, emphasizing its lead in total viewers [2]. Additionally, the fact that Jimmy Kimmel Live! lost 72% of its key demographic audience over the past decade may be used to create a negative narrative about the show [3]. The statement made by President Donald Trump that ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! largely because of poor ratings may also be considered biased [4]. It is essential to consider multiple sources and viewpoints to get an accurate understanding of the ratings of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and other late-night shows [1] [3] [2].

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How do Jimmy Kimmel's ratings compare to Stephen Colbert's Late Show?
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