TONIGHT SHOW Takes The Late-Night Ratings Week Of 12/17-12/21 In 18-49

"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" has won the late-night ratings week of Dec. 17-21 versus "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in adults 18-49 and most other key demographics, according to "live plus same day" figures from Nielsen Media Research.

For the week, "Tonight" earned a 0.52 rating in 18-49 and 2.641 million viewers overall. Excluding weeks of major weekday primetime sporting events (NFL and Olympics), this is "Tonight" highest weekly 18-49 rating since March 9-13 (0.53) and most-watched week in the past year (since the week of Dec. 18-22, 2017, 3.069 million).

In addition to last week's win in the key adult 18-49 measure, "Tonight" also took the week in adults 25-54, adults 18-34, all key adult-female demographics, men 18-34 and men 25-54. Note that Kimmel aired a Friday encore.

In "most current" Nielsens for the season to date, "Tonight" leads Colbert and Kimmel in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults 18-34, men 18-34 and all key adult-female demographics.

Last week at 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" ranked #1 versus "The Late Late Show with James Corden" in adults 18-49 and all other key demographics (including a tie in men 18-49).

The strong "Tonight Show" week was paced by Tuesday's telecast, which followed the "Voice" finale in primetime and featured guests Michelle Obama and Ariana Grande. That Dec. 18 "Tonight Show" averaged a 0.66 rating in adults 18-49, 3.489 million viewers overall, MAKING IT the show's most-watched Tuesday telecast in two years, since Dec. 13, 2016 (3.756 million, also a "Voice" finale night).

Excluding nights of major primetime sports coverage, it was "Tonight's" most-watched episode on any night of the week since Michelle Obama's last appearance, nearly two years ago on Wednesday, Jan., 11, 2017 (4.090 million).

In 18-49, the Dec. 18 telecast matched the show's high for any night of the week, excluding nights of primetime NFL coverage, since Monday, Feb. 26, 2018 (0.68), the night of the show's return after an Olympics hiatus.

Tuesday's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (1.631 million viewers overall) generated the show's most-watched episode, excluding NFL nights, in 10 months, since Tuesday, Feb. 6 (1.733 million).

LATE-NIGHT WEEKLY AVERAGES
(According to viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of Dec. 17-21. 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" 0.52 rating, 4 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.46/3
ABC "Kimmel," 0.34/2 *

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 0.23/2

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 0.27/3 *
CBS "Late Late Show," 0.25/2 *

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.17/2 (R)

TOTAL VIEWERS

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight," 2.641 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 3.142 million viewers
ABC "Kimmel," 1.789 million viewers *

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.196 million viewers

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.305 million viewers *
CBS "The Late Late Show," 1.315 million viewers *

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.709 million viewers (R)

* Friday's "Kimmel," "Late Night" and "Late Late Show" were encores. "Last Call" was preempted on Friday.

SEASON AVERAGES

ADULTS 18-49

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Tonight" 0.54 rating, 4 share
CBS "Late Show," 0.52/4
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," 0.32/3
CBS "The Late Late Show," 0.25/2

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," 2.485 million viewers
CBS "Late Show," 3.685 million viewers
ABC "Kimmel," 2.066 million viewers

12:35-1:05 a.m. ET
ABC "Nightline," 1.309 million viewers

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET
NBC "Late Night," 1.479 million viewers
CBS "The Late Late Show," 1.352 million viewers

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET
NBC "Last Call," 0.773 million viewers

SELECTED CABLE RESULTS, WEEK OF DEC. 17-21

NATIONAL ADULT 18-49 RATING

Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m., "The Daily Show," 0.20 **

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.44
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.35

Each adult 18-49 rating point equals 1.29 million viewers.

TOTAL VIEWERS

Comedy Central, 11-11:30 p.m., "The Daily Show," 0.637 million **

Adult Swim, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET, 0.914 million
Adult Swim, 12:30-1:30 a.m. ET, 0.727 million

** Thursday's "Daily Show" was an encore.

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