How does Gutfeld's viewership compare to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert?

1. Ratings numbers: the headline comparison

Multiple outlets report that, through mid‑2025, Gutfeld! averaged roughly 3.0–3.2 million viewers while Colbert’s Late Show averaged about 1.9 million in the same reporting period—figures cited by Fox News and other outlets as proof that Gutfeld! now leads in total viewers among late‑night offerings ^{[1] [2]}. Trade pieces summarizing quarterly Nielsen data also list Gutfeld! as the top late‑night program by total audience for certain months and quarters ^{[5] [6]}.

2. Time slot and platform caveats — apples vs. oranges

Gutfeld! airs at 10:00 p.m. ET on Fox News, while Colbert’s Late Show airs at 11:35 p.m. ET on broadcast CBS; the different time slots and the fact that Gutfeld! is on a cable news channel mean simple totals reflect different viewing behaviors and lead‑ins rather than identical audience competition ^[1]. Several reports explicitly note the shows air at different times while still comparing total viewers ^[1].

3. Demo performance: where Colbert still shows strength

Even in articles highlighting Gutfeld!’s total‑viewer lead, Colbert is reported to win certain advertiser demographics on particular nights and to hold first place within the 11:35 p.m. network late‑night hour ^{[1] [3]}. Trade coverage shows Colbert bringing competitive 18–49 and 25–54 demo numbers in some periods—metrics advertisers prize despite lower overall totals compared with Gutfeld! ^{[3] [2]}.

4. Trend context: Gutfeld! gains, Colbert’s stability

Reports note Gutfeld! has posted large year‑over‑year gains and, in several months and weeks, topped network competitors in total viewers ^{[7] [6]}. Colbert, meanwhile, has at times been the only program among network late‑night shows to post quarter‑to‑quarter increases, and he “held onto the top spot in his hour” even as Gutfeld! dominated its earlier slot ^{[3] [7]}.

5. Political and editorial context shaping coverage

Coverage comes with clear partisan and promotional angles. Fox News–owned outlets emphasize Gutfeld!’s total‑viewer dominance and frame it as a late‑night dethroning ^[1]. Independent trade sites and critical commentary caution against treating raw Nielsen totals as the sole measure of influence or comparability, arguing Colbert’s reach and cultural impact are not captured fully by headline numbers—an argument advanced in opinion pieces like Salon’s ^[4].

6. What the numbers don’t tell us: reach, influence, and revenue

Available sources do not provide comprehensive public data in these articles about revenue per viewer, streaming and clip virality, or long‑term cultural influence for either host; Salon and other commentators say Nielsen totals alone are an incomplete metric of “reach” and cultural force ^[4]. Late‑night trade pieces focus on linear Nielsen averages, which miss online views and social‑media amplification unless explicitly noted ^{[6] [5]}.

7. Mixed takeaways and what reporters emphasize

The consistent factual takeaway across sources is: Gutfeld! has led in raw total viewers for several reporting periods and specific months, while Colbert continues to lead his 11:35 p.m. network hour and remains competitive in key demos ^{[1] [3] [2]}. Interpretations diverge: some outlets treat the total‑viewer lead as a seismic industry shift ^{[1] [2]}; critics argue that comparing different time slots and audience types without nuance overstates the case ^[4].

8. Bottom line for readers

If you measure success strictly by average linear total viewers during the cited periods, Gutfeld! led Colbert by a substantial margin in mid‑2025 ^{[1] [2]}. If you weigh hour‑by‑hour network performance, advertiser demos, cultural footprint, and non‑linear viewership, Colbert’s show continues to register strengths the headline totals do not fully capture ^{[3] [4]}.