Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show” Ratings Drop, Stephen Colbert Leads Late Night Ratings

Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show” Ratings Drop, Stephen Colbert Leads Late Night Ratings

It looks like Stephen Colbert is taking Jimmy Fallon’s top spot in the late-night game. At least for now. The ratings for the 2018-2019 late-night talk show season are in and Late Show With Stephen Colbert is at the top. This is the first time this has happened since Colbert slid into David Letterman’s spot for Late Show back in 2015. Colbert’s ratings average 0.52 (679,000 viewers) for adults 18-49, which is the key demographic from September 24, 2018 to May 10, 2019.

Meanwhile, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon has suffered in the same demographic. Thankfully for Fallon, while it’s no longer at the top, it’s not too far behind. His ratings average 0.51 which is about 659,000 viewers for the same demographic.

The same holds true for total viewers as Colbert won for the third season in a row. He averaged 3.82 million, while Fallon averaged 2.44 million.

This marks the first time Colbert beat Fallon for an entire season. It’s also the first time The Late Show has been number one since 1994-1995, when Letterman was the host. Word is Fallon hasn’t bounced back since his 2016 sit-down with Donald Trump, when Trump was running for President. Fans blasted Fallon for going easy on the then candidate in what has been dubbed a softball interview.

Other changes have taken place on Fallon’s show such as the exit of his longtime executive producer Katie Hockmeyer. Her leave came shortly after the showrunner and creative director, Mike DiCenzo resigned. 

As for Jimmy Kimmel Live, that show is in third place with a 0.38 rating, or 486,000 viewers in the 18-49 demographic and 2.04 million viewers overall.

Colbert might be on top, but all three shows suffered a double-digit fall this season compared to the 2017-2018 season.

Your thoughts? Tell us in the comments!