Kimmel Ratings: Gains & Losses In Late Night TV Race (2025)
Is the late-night landscape shifting, or are we witnessing the cyclical ebb and flow of television viewership? The January 2025 Nielsen rankings, and subsequent months, paint a picture of both volatility and entrenched dominance within the realm of late-night talk shows, a sector once considered a reliable cornerstone of television entertainment.
The television audience in the United States continues to evolve, and with this evolution comes a constant reassessment of the players in the industry. As of January 2025, according to the latest Nielsen rankings, the late-night landscape was marked by a familiar hierarchy, yet also punctuated by periods of both surprising shifts in viewership, as well as some expected outcomes.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | James Christian Kimmel |
| Birth Date | November 13, 1967 |
| Birthplace | Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Comedian, Television Host, Writer, Producer |
| Known For | Host of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" |
| Show Airtime | 11:35 PM (Most Common) |
| Education | University of Nevada, Las Vegas (attended, but did not graduate) |
| Notable Career Moments | Host of the Emmy Awards (multiple times); Hosted the Academy Awards (2017, 2018, 2023) |
| Years Active | 1990Present |
| Website Reference | Official ABC Website |
In January 2025, the established pecking order was evident. "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" maintained its top spot in the traditional 11:30 p.m. ET timeslot, a testament to the show's continued resonance with audiences. Following closely behind was "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on ABC, a program that has consistently proven its staying power. January was not an anomaly; this trend reflected the overall direction the late night show market was taking.
However, February 2025 brought some notable shifts. "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" experienced a dip, losing 9% of its total viewers and a substantial 25% of its younger viewers compared to the previous month. This decline underscores the fickle nature of television audiences and the challenges of maintaining consistent viewership in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. At the same time, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" saw gains, rising by 4.8% of total viewers and 3% of younger viewers. This upward trend illustrates the power of consistency and the ability to resonate with audiences over time. While the big winner was in cable and aired on a different timeslot, the competition between the programs remained fierce.
Amidst these fluctuations, the week of April 7th, 2025, provided a snapshot of the competitive landscape. Back from a week-long vacation, Jimmy Kimmel scored the biggest ratings gains for the week. His nightly average among total viewers for the week reached 1,647,000. Seth Meyers, however, hit a new low, highlighting the varying fortunes within the late-night arena. The ranking as of Friday, April 18, 2025, revealed the ongoing battle for late-night supremacy.
The influence of time off also plays a role. During the week of February 16, 2025, with both Kimmel and Fallon on vacation, Stephen Colbert had the 11:35pm hour all to himself. He reaped the rewards, pulling in the highest nightly average among total viewers at that time, reaching 1.7 million viewers. This dominance points to the significance of the anchor show's presence in driving viewership for that time slot.
Looking back to January 2025, the ratings picture further clarifies the overall standings. While "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" held the top position, the competition remained intense. The rankings showed that "Colbert" topped the others, followed by "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". This was in the traditional 11:35 p.m. ET timeslot. "Gutfeld!" held steady, occupying a significant position, even as the other shows battled to maintain their presence in the viewers eyes. While "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" also saw gains compared to the prior week's reruns, the ratings fluctuated overall.
The data from the week of January 13, 2025, illustrated the importance of various platforms for late-night content. The "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" YouTube channel earned 3 million views during that week, showcasing the show's reach beyond traditional broadcast ratings. This underscores the shift toward multi-platform content consumption, and the need for late-night hosts to be present and engaged across various digital spaces.
A look at the trends indicates that the hosts face the ongoing challenge of keeping ratings up. Jimmy Kimmel, known for inserting himself into public controversies, uses this technique as part of his strategy. His show's engagement score is noted to be .82 as of April 2025, per the television stats algorithm. The algorithm examines online audience activity and engagement across platforms like search engines, website traffic, and social media.
The competition is fierce. The show's rankings are consistent in the top categories. "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was ranked as the #826 most popular show online and the #50 most popular TV show on ABC. The show's performance, however, has seen some shifts. On March 5, 2025, there were conversations about Kimmel, with some expressing opinions about his political views. The comments were centered around how the audience's opinions may affect the content. These discussions, however, showed how the viewers are engaged and how current the content is.
The Q1 2025 ratings charts provide a comprehensive overview of the landscape. The data confirms a consistent trend and provides insight into the performance of each show. This also includes the "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," and "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." The most common airtime for the shows is listed in these charts.
The year 2024 offered an important picture for the shows' audiences. In 2024, Kimmel was regularly over 2.4 million viewers, with ratings going up in 2025 to over 4 million. The hosts are continually trying to stay at the top of their game, and the pressure is always on.
In the face of the uncertainty and trends, Kimmel has expressed a reflective sentiment to his audience. With the year drawing to a close, he has encouraged them to embrace generosity and goodness, perhaps as a way of creating a positive outlook for the future. The Christmas of 2025 will be a good time to show kindness and love.
The trends also show the importance of digital platforms. The online audience also contributes to the overall success of the shows. The television landscape is dynamic, and the ability of late-night hosts to adapt and resonate with their audiences across various platforms will determine their continued success. The hosts continue to try new formats and guest stars to garner high ratings. The future of late-night TV is subject to continued trends and audience preferences.
