First on LateNighter: Jimmy Kimmel’s return from suspension continues to be the ratings gift that keeps on giving, with Jimmy Kimmel Live! turning in its first-ever monthly ratings win in the 11:35 PM time slot in September.
Though Kimmel’s return didn’t come until the fourth week of the month, the ABC show’s record performance on September 23—and sustained higher-than-usual numbers through the end of September—were enough to edge past CBS’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert to claim the top spot among total viewers at 11:35 PM.
All told, Jimmy Kimmel Live! averaged 2.75 million viewers, up 149% from August, while The Late Show with Stephen Colbert slipped 3% month-over-month to 2.73 million. NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon fell 6% to 1.25 million.
That’s according to Nielsen Live+7 ratings data.
Among adults 18–49, Kimmel’s lead was even more commanding, surging 196% from August to 382,000 demo viewers. Fallon improved 43% to 191,000, while Colbert declined 7% to 245,000.
At 12:37 AM, Late Night with Seth Meyers also gained momentum, climbing 12% in total viewers (to 973,000) and 25% in the demo (to 116,000). ABC’s Nightline saw even steeper growth, up 49% in total viewers (909,000) and 91% in the demo (130,000), benefiting from the unusually strong lead-ins from Kimmel. (Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, which began its run on CBS at 12:37 AM on September 23rd, is not being tracked by Nielsen.)
Comedy Central’s The Daily Show returned from a five-week hiatus with 13 new episodes in September, averaging 980,000 total viewers and 204,000 in the demo—down slightly from its July averages of 1.03 million and 210,000, respectively.
And at 10 PM, Fox News’s Gutfeld! continued to dominate overall viewership with 3.3 million total viewers (+7%) and 244,000 in the demo (+11%), while Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live fell 5% to 254,000 viewers but rebounded slightly in the demo, up 6% to 57,000.
Complete ratings charts for September 2025 follow below.
Note: Monthly ratings averages include only first-run episodes. Time period listed is most common airtime for show.
Live+ 7 Ratings — All Viewers (P2+)
| Avg Share (%) |
Avg Viewers (000s) |
Vs Last Mth |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 PM | |||
| Watch What Happens Live (BRAVO) 17 First-run episodes |
0.52 | 254 | -5% |
| Gutfeld! (FNC) † 19 First-run episodes |
7.38 | 3,300 | +7% |
| 11:00 PM | |||
| The Daily Show (COM) * 13 First-run episodes |
2.96 | 980 | — |
| 11:35 PM | |||
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) 14 First-run episodes |
11.07 | 2,750 | +149% |
| The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) 16 First-run episodes |
10.89 | 2,732 | -3% |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC) 17 First-run episodes |
5.63 | 1,252 | -6% |
| 12:37 AM | |||
| Nightline (ABC) * 21 First-run episodes |
5.15 | 909 | +49% |
| Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC) 17 First-run episodes |
6.1 | 973 | +12% |
Live+ 7 Ratings — In the Demo (P18-49)
| Avg Share (%) |
Avg Viewers (000s) |
Vs Last Mth |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 PM | |||
| Watch What Happens Live (BRAVO) 17 First-run episodes |
0.57 | 57 | +6% |
| Gutfeld! (FNC) † 19 First-run episodes |
2.82 | 244 | +11% |
| 11:00 PM | |||
| The Daily Show (COM) * 13 First-run episodes |
3.03 | 204 | — |
| 11:35 PM | |||
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) 14 First-run episodes |
7.65 | 382 | +196% |
| The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) 16 First-run episodes |
4.92 | 245 | -7% |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC) 17 First-run episodes |
4.57 | 191 | +43% |
| 12:37 AM | |||
| Nightline (ABC) * 21 First-run episodes |
3.59 | 130 | +91% |
| Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC) 17 First-run episodes |
3.7 | 116 | +25% |
