It has been a few weeks since Stephen Colbert signed off and the late night landscape has already rearranged itself in ways that favor one person above everyone else. Jimmy Kimmel is at the top of the weekly ratings chart again, leading not just in total viewers but also in the 18 to 49 demographic that advertisers value most.
The numbers from the week of June 1st say everything. Kimmel averaged 2.89 million total viewers across four original episodes, up 19 percent from the prior week. In the 18 to 49 demographic the growth was even more dramatic, up 105 percent week over week. His two post NBA Finals episodes pushed into territory the show has not reached in years, with the post Game 1 broadcast hitting 3.98 million total viewers.
For context, that single episode outperformed what CBS is now averaging across its entire late night lineup combined.
The year over year comparison is equally striking. Kimmel drew 2.72 million viewers in the week of June 1st versus 1.64 million in the same week last year. Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show went from 1.14 million to 1.27 million over the same period, a gain of 11 percent. Kimmel’s 66 percent surge dwarfs that number completely.
What the raw ratings cannot fully capture is how the late night ecosystem has shifted in terms of cultural authority. Colbert spent eleven years as the most important voice in the 11:35 slot, particularly for audiences who wanted political comedy delivered with intelligence and moral seriousness. That audience is now making choices. A meaningful portion of them are choosing Kimmel.
The 18 to 49 demographic numbers are particularly telling because they suggest the shift is not simply older Colbert viewers landing on the nearest available show. Younger audiences are actively engaging with Kimmel at a rate the show has not seen since its early years.
Kimmel contracted with ABC through May 2027. If these numbers hold through the summer, that contract renewal conversation is going to be one of the most interesting in recent television history.
