Shocking 2025 Late-Night Ratings Reveal: Colbert Barely Edges Kimmel in Nail-Biter Finish as Demo Wars Heat Up
By Alex Thornton, Entertainment Reporter
New York, NY – January 5, 2026
The final ratings for 2025’s late-night talk shows have landed, painting a picture of a fiercely competitive landscape where traditional victories are fracturing under the weight of demographics, digital views, and cultural divides. Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show narrowly claimed the top spot in total viewers during the crucial final week, edging out Jimmy Kimmel by a mere 9,000 viewers, but Kimmel dominated the coveted 18-49 demographic—raising questions about who truly “wins” in an era where younger audiences dictate advertising dollars.
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According to Nielsen Live+3 data for the week of December 14-20, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert averaged approximately 2.34 million total viewers, just ahead of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 2.33 million. In the adults 18-49 demo—the key metric for advertisers—Kimmel surged with 252,000 viewers, far outpacing Colbert’s 181,000. NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon trailed with 1.31 million total viewers and 178,000 in the demo, while Late Night with Seth Meyers posted gains, averaging 963,000 total viewers (up 12%) and 133,000 in the demo (up 9%).
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This razor-thin margin underscores a year defined not by dominant punchlines but by external forces: political monologues fueling outrage-driven spikes, viral clips on social media eclipsing full episodes, and backlash cycles that boosted some shows while alienating others. High-profile guests amplified numbers—Kimmel featured Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris, Colbert hosted Hugh Jackman and Anderson Cooper—but controversy often proved the real draw.
Industry insiders note the shift toward digital consumption. While linear TV ratings remain the benchmark, YouTube views and TikTok clips increasingly drive engagement, particularly among younger viewers slipping away from Fallon, whose musical games and celebrity antics once defined the slot. Meyers, with his sharp “A Closer Look” segments, quietly solidified his 12:37 a.m. dominance, outperforming competitors in his time slot.
The numbers challenge long-held assumptions. Colbert, long seen as the post-Leno/Carson heir in total audience, held steady amid reports of his show’s upcoming 2026 conclusion, but Kimmel’s demo lead signals advertiser preference for his audience profile. Fallon, despite star-studded lineups including Timothée Chalamet and Stranger Things cast, saw dips, reflecting broader struggles for lighter, apolitical fare in a polarized climate.
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Late Night Shows have been losing Ratings and Profits. Kimmel was …
Broader trends reveal late night’s transformation. Overall viewership declined year-over-year in many quarters, with podcasts and streaming siphoning audiences. Yet political hot-button moments triggered surges—monologues critiquing current events often went viral, translating to temporary boosts. Cable’s Gutfeld! continued dominating its earlier slot, highlighting fragmentation beyond broadcast.
Experts debate the future. “The old rules—total viewers crown the king—no longer apply,” said one Nielsen analyst. “Demo strength and online virality are the new currency.” Fans fiercely defend their favorites online, with debates raging over whether Colbert’s consistency or Kimmel’s youth appeal signals true longevity.
As 2026 dawns, with Colbert’s exit looming, the battlefield remains unpredictable. Meyers’ steady gains position him as a dark horse, while Fallon seeks reinvention. These end-of-year figures don’t just rank shows—they expose a genre in flux, where laughter competes with headlines, and survival demands adaptation.
The data, sourced from LateNighter and Nielsen, confirms: no clear winner, only survivors in a changing game.