"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" has dominated the late-night ratings week of Nov. 19-23 in adults 18-49, winning versus "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in that key demo, as well as adults, men and women 18-34; men and women 18-49; and adults, men and women 25-54, according to "live plus same day" figures from Nielsen Media Research.
With an average 0.77 rating in adults 18-49 and 2.972 million viewers overall, it's the top-scoring week for "Tonight" in both measures since the week of Feb. 5-9, when "Tonight" benefited from two nights of Olympic lead-ins.
Last week's ratings were paced by "Tonight's" Thanksgiving results, which included the show's highest 18-49 nightly rating (excluding its post-Super Bowl telecast) in the past two years. "Tonight's" start that night was delayed by a primetime NFL overrun.
For the week in 18-49, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (0.40) and "Last Call with Carson Daly" (0.25 in rebroadcast) both generated their strongest weekly 18-49 averages in nearly a year, since the week of Dec. 4-8 (0.41 for "Late Night," 0.28 for "Last Call").
In total viewers, it was nearly a two-year high for Meyers (1.655 million, best since Dec. 19-23, 2016, 1.712 million) and virtually a one-year high for Daly (936,000, best since Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 2017, 939,000).
All four "Tonight" originals last week topped the show's season average in adults 18-49. Wednesday's telecast (0.63 rating in 18-49) was Fallon's top-rated Wednesday edition since the show earned a 0.65 eight months ago on March 14.
On Thanksgiving, "Tonight" delivered the show's strongest 18-49 rating in two years for a regularly scheduled telecast, with its 1.43 being the show's highest excluding a post-Super Bowl edition last February since the Thanksgiving telecast of two years ago (1.48 on Nov. 24, 2016 at 12:14 a.m.).
In total viewers, last Thursday's 12:04 a.m. ET edition averaged 4.659 million persons, MAKING IT "Tonight's" most-watched episode since the Feb. 9 post-Olympic Opening Ceremony telecast (4.664 million).
"Tonight" grew +27% versus last year's 12:21 a.m. Thanksgiving edition in 18-49 (1.43 vs. 1.13) and +20% in total viewers (4.659 million vs. 3.894 million). Versus "Tonight's" season-to-date averages for originals, the Thanksgiving telecast was up +198% 18-49 (1.43 vs. 0.48) and +107% in total viewers 2+ (4.659 million 2.252 million).
The Thanksgiving telecast of "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (0.72 in 18-49, 2.411 million viewers overall at 1:07 a.m. ET) hit a two-year high in 18-49 and a three-year high in total viewers. The 0.72 is Meyers' best 18-49 rating since 2016's Thanksgiving edition (0.76 on Nov. 24, 2016 at 1:16 a.m.) and the 2.411 million makes this the most-watched "Late Night" since Thanksgiving 2015 (2.546 million on Nov. 26, 2015 at 1:40 a.m.).
A Thanksgiving "Last Call with Carson Daly" encore (0.48 in 18-49, 1.451 million viewers overall at 2:08 a.m. ET) also delivered a two-year best in 18-49 and a three-year high in total viewers. Daly's 0.48 in 18-49 is "Last Call's" strongest since Thanksgiving 2016 (0.53 on Nov. 24, 2016 at 2:44 a.m.). The 1.451 million in total viewers is a high for Daly since Thanksgiving 2015 (1.678 million on Nov. 26, 2015 at 2:41 a.m.).
LATE-NIGHT WEEKLY AVERAGES
(According to viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of Nov. 19-23. 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" 0.77 rating, 5 share *
CBS "Late Show," 0.43/3 *
ABC "Kimmel," 0.40/3 *
12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.23/2
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.40/4 *
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.24/2 *
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.25/3 (R) *
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 2.972 million viewers *
CBS "Late Show," 3.136 million viewers *
ABC "Kimmel," 2.009 million viewers *
12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.212 million viewers
12:35-1:35
a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.655 million viewers *
CBS "The Late Late Show," 1.302 million viewers *
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.936 million viewers (R) *
* NBC's Thursday shows were delayed by a primetime NFL overrun. Friday NBC shows, Thursday and Friday editions of CBS' shows and Wednesday through Friday telecasts of "Kimmel" are excluded due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
SEASON AVERAGES
ADULTS 18-49
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight" 0.55 rating, 4 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.52/4
ABC "Kimmel," 0.41/3
12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.27/2
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.32/3
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," 2.453 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 3.629 million viewers
ABC "Kimmel," 2.093 million viewers
12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.322 million viewers
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.485 million viewers
CBS "The Late Late Show," 1.337 million viewers
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.788 million viewers
SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK OF NOV. 19-23
NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING
Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m., "The Daily Show," 0.09 **
Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.43
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.36
Each adult 18-49 rating point equals 1.29 million viewers.
TOTAL VIEWERS
Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m., "The Daily Show," 0.236 million **
Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.921 million
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.757 million
** Thursday's "Daily Show" was preempted.
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