THE TONIGHT SHOW and LATE NIGHT Stay On Top as New Season Begins

"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and "Late Night with Seth Meyers" dominated their respective timeslot competition for Sept. 19-23 - premiere week of the new fall season.

At 11:35 p.m. ET, "The Tonight Show" drew a 0.89 in adults 18-49 rating for the week, and handily outperformed CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" (0.55) and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (0.46) in the demo as well as total viewers. For Fallon, it's his highest rated week in 18-49, excluding weeks of NFL or Olympic lead-ins, since April 4-8 (0.89).

"Late Night with Seth Meyers" posted a 0.46 in 18-49 rating for the week, outrating both CBS' "The Late Late Show with James Corden (0.33) and ABC's "Nightline" (0.51 for Meyers vs. 0.32 for "Nightline" during their head-to-head half-hour). Meyers tied Kimmel in 18-49 rating (0.46 vs. 0.46) despite starting an hour later.

It's Meyers' top week in 18-49, excluding weeks of NFL or Olympic lead-ins, since Feb. 29-March 4 (0.48).

WEEKLY AVERAGES
(According to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of Sept. 19-23. Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data from Nielsen Media Research 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" 0.89 rating, 5 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.55/3 *
ABC "Kimmel," 0.46/3 *

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.32/2

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.46/3 *
CBS "The Late Late Show," 0.33/3 *

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.27/3 *

TOTAL VIEWERS

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 3.429 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 2.593 million viewers *
ABC "Kimmel," 2.174 million viewers *

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.451 million viewers

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.496 million viewers *
CBS "The Late Late Show," 1.283 million viewers *

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.830 million viewers *

* "Kimmel," "Late Night," "Late Late Show" and "Last Call" were encores on Friday night. Thursday's CBS programs were delayed by an NFL overrun.

SEASON AVERAGES

ADULTS 18-49

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight" 0.89 rating, 5 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.55/3
ABC "Kimmel," 0.46/3

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.32/2

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.46/3
CBS "The Late Late Show," 0.33/3

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.27/3

TOTAL VIEWERS

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 3.429 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 2.593 million viewers
ABC "Kimmel," 2.174 million viewers

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.451 million viewers

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.496 million viewers
CBS "The Late Late Show," 1.283 million viewers

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.830 million viewers

SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK SEPT. 19-23

NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING

Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m. ET, "The Daily Show," 0.28

TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.23

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.65
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.51

Each adult 18-49 rating point equals 1.27 million viewers.

TOTAL VIEWERS

Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m., "The Daily Show," 0.776 million

TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.514 million

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 1.323 million
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 1.043 million

Image courtesy of NBC.

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