"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" has won the late-night ratings race for the week of Sept. 3-7 in the key adult 18-49 demographic and all other key demos, equaling the show's strongest adult 18-49 rating in six months, according to "live plus same day" figures from Nielsen Media Research.
For the week, "Tonight" averaged a 0.58 rating in adults 18-49 and 2.346 million viewers overall, to match the show's best 18-49 rating since its first week following the Winter Olympics, Feb. 26-March 2 (0.63), and deliver its most-watched week since May 21-25 (2.364 million).
Pacing "Tonight's" week was the Thursday telecast, which followed a primetime NFL overrun. That Sept. 6 episode's 0.99 rating in 18-49 and 2.927 million viewers were "Tonight's" best in both measures since Feb. 9 following the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics (1.29 in 18-49, 4.664 million viewers).
Last week at 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" delivered an average 0.35 rating in 18-49 and 1.354 million viewers overall, making this its top week in 18-49 since Feb. 26-March 2 (0.36) and most-watched week since March 19-23 (1.391 million). Last week's "Late Night" topped "The Late Late Show with James Corden" in every key ratings category.
"Late Night's" week peaked on Thursday, with a 0.57 rating in 18-49, the show's highest in more than nine months (since a 0.69 on Thanksgiving night, also following an NFL overrun).
LATE-NIGHT WEEKLY AVERAGES
(According to viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of Sept. 3-7. 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" 0.58 rating, 4 share *
CBS "Late Show," 0.39/3 *
ABC "Kimmel," 0.37/2 *
12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.25/2 *
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.35/4 *
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.22/2 *
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.17/2 *
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 2.346 million viewers *
CBS "Late Show," 2.784 million viewers *
ABC "Kimmel," 1.816 million viewers *
12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.154 million viewers *
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.354 million viewers *
CBS "The Late Late Show," 1.175 million viewers *
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.722 million viewers *
* Monday results are excluded from these averages due to the Labor Day holiday and Thursday's NBC programming was delayed by an NFL overrun.
SEASON AVERAGES
ADULTS 18-49
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight" 0.62 rating, 4 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.57/4
ABC "Kimmel," 0.46/3
12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.29/2
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.36/3
CBS "The Late Late Show," 0.26/2
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.21/2
TOTAL VIEWERS
11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 2.580 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 3.769 million viewers
ABC "Kimmel," 2.192 million viewers
12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.342 million viewers
12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.517 million viewers
CBS "The Late Late Show," 1.359 million viewers
1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.788 million viewers
SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK OF SEPT. 3-7
NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING
Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m., "The Daily Show," 0.22 **
TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.11 (R)
Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.56
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.43
Each adult 18-49 rating point equals 1.29 million viewers.
TOTAL VIEWERS
Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m., "The Daily Show," 0.731 million **
TBS, 11 p.m.-midnight, "Conan," 0.267 million (R)
Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 1.076 million
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.823 million
** Monday's "Daily Show" was preempted.
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