How has late night talk show viewership changed since Barack Obama’s presidency?

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

The analyses provided suggest that late-night talk show viewership has declined since Barack Obama's presidency, with only about one-quarter of Americans watching a late-night talk show at least monthly in the past year [1] [2]. Democrats are more likely to be regular viewers, with about half saying they've watched late-night clips at least once a month [1]. The current state of late-night talk shows is also marked by controversy, such as the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert [2]. In terms of viewer ratings, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is the most-watched late-night television show, followed by Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon [3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some sources do not provide direct information about the change in late-night talk show viewership since Barack Obama's presidency [4] [5]. However, they mention the decline of late-night talk shows and the shift towards more partisan content, which may be contributing to the decline in viewership [4]. Additionally, the current controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel's suspension and the reaction of other late-night hosts may indicate a shift in the landscape of late-night talk shows and their viewership [5] [2]. It is also worth noting that the analyses provided are based on polls and viewer ratings, which may not capture the entire picture of late-night talk show viewership [2] [3] [1]. Alternative viewpoints may include the perspective of late-night talk show hosts, who may have different opinions on the state of their industry, or the views of Republicans and independents, who are less likely to watch late-night talk shows regularly [1].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement asks how late-night talk show viewership has changed since Barack Obama's presidency, but it does not provide any context or data to support this question [1] [2]. The sources provided suggest that late-night talk show viewership has declined, but they do not provide a direct comparison to the viewership during Barack Obama's presidency [1] [2]. Democrats and late-night talk show hosts may benefit from the framing of the original statement, as it highlights their perspective on the current state of late-night talk shows [1]. On the other hand, Republicans and independents may be underrepresented in the analyses provided, as they are less likely to watch late-night talk shows regularly [1]. Overall, the original statement may be biased towards a Democratic perspective, and it may not capture the entire picture of late-night talk show viewership [1].

Want to dive deeper?
What were the peak viewership numbers for late night talk shows during Barack Obama's presidency?
How has the rise of streaming services affected late night talk show viewership since 2016?
Which late night talk shows have seen the most significant decline in viewership since 2008?