"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" has dominated the late-night ratings week of Feb. 25-March 1, winning the adult 18-49 demographic and every other key measure versus "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and an encore week of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," according to "live plus same day" figures from Nielsen Media Research.
"Tonight's" 2.565 million viewers is a 10-week high, best for the show since the week of the "Voice 15" finale, Dec. 17-21, 2018 (2.625 million). Last week's 0.51 rating in adults 18-49 is also "Tonight's" highest for a week of originals since Dec. 17-21.
It's the season's #2 most-watched week of "Tonight" excluding weeks of high-rated primetime NFL coverage, and tied for second-highest non-NFL week of originals in 18-49.
At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" scored a 0.30 last week, matching that show's highest 18-49 rating, excluding weeks of NFL boosts, since Sept. 17-21, 2018 (0.31). In total viewers (1.375 million), it was "Late Night's" most-watched week in nearly a year, since March 19-23, 2018 (1.391 million).
At 1:35 a.m. ET, "Last Call with Carson Daly" (0.20) equaled that show's 18-49 high for an original week, excluding NFL boosts, since March 19-23, 2018 (0.22). In total viewers (778,000), it was Daly's best non-NFL original week since Nov. 5-9, 2018 (785,000).
"Tonight's" strong week was paced by potent Monday and Tuesday results.
Monday's telecast featured an homage to the 1990s "The Larry Sanders Show," with guests Tina Fey, Ben Stiller, Robert Irwin, Robert De Niro and musical guest Florida Georgia Line. That night's 0.52 rating in 18-49 matches the show's best Monday original result since Dec. 17, 2018 (0.53 on the night of the "Voice" performance finale and an "America's Got Talent" holiday special). The 2.757 million viewers overall for the Feb. 25 telecast is the best for a Monday "Tonight" since that same Dec. 17 episode (3.132 million).
Tuesday's telecast also surged with a 0.56 in 18-49 (best for "Tonight" on any night of the week since Tuesday, Jan. 29) and 2.733 million viewers (the show's most-watched Tuesday since Dec. 18, 2018, the night of the "Voice 15" finale).The Tuesday "Tonight" featured Tyler Perry, Sarah Hyland, Tonight Showbotics and musical guest Weezer
Monday's potent "Tonight" led into a strong "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (0.33 in 18-49, 1.505 million viewers), which earned the show's top 18-49 rating for a Monday original since Sept. 17, 2018, the night of the "The Voice 15" and "Manifest" debuts.
LATE-NIGHT WEEKLY AVERAGES
(According to viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of Feb. 25-March 1. Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day.")
ADULTS 18-49
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight" 0.51 rating, 4 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.29/2 (R)
ABC "Kimmel," 0.38/2 *
12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.25/2
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.30/3 *
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.18/2 (R)
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.20/2 *
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 2.565 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 2.072 million viewers (R)
ABC "Kimmel," 2.169 million viewers *
12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.273 million viewers
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.375 million viewers *
CBS "The Late Late Show," 1.040 million viewers (R)
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.778 million viewers *
* Friday's "Kimmel," "Late Night" and "Last Call" were encores.
SEASON AVERAGES
ADULTS 18-49
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight" 0.53 rating, 4 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.54/4
ABC "Kimmel," 0.40/3
12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.26/2
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.31/3
CBS "The Late Late Show," 0.24/2
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.19/2
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 2.482 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 3.838 million viewers
ABC "Kimmel," 2.085 million viewers
12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.301 million viewers
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.474 million viewers
CBS "The Late Late Show," 1.373 million viewers
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.754 million viewers
SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK OF FEB. 25-MARCH 1
NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING
Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m., "The Daily Show," 0.22
TBS, 11-11:30 p.m., "Conan," 0.19
Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.44
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.34
Each adult 18-49 rating point equals 1.29 million viewers.
TOTAL VIEWERS
Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m., "The Daily Show," 0.773 million viewers
TBS, 11-11:30 p.m., "Conan," 0.435 million viewers
Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.856 million viewers
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.639 million viewers
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