Stephen Colbert Ratings Over The Years: He Leaves As No. 1 In Late Night

BusinessMediaStephen Colbert Ratings Over The Years: He Leaves As No. 1 In Late NightByToni Fitzgerald,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Toni Fitzgerald is a Pennsylvania-based reporter who covers mediaFollow AuthorMay 21, 2026, 11:37pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryStephen Colbert is departing late night television as a ratings powerhouse, leaving industry observers puzzled by his exit despite his consistent viewership dominance. "The Late Show" held the top spot in total viewers for nine consecutive seasons and led the crucial 18-49 demographic for seven. In the first quarter of 2026, Colbert maintained an impressive 2.7 million average viewers, a remarkable feat given the widespread decline in television viewership, nearly matching his predecessor David Letterman's numbers. While Jimmy Kimmel Live! saw a recent surge to 2.53 million viewers and briefly surpassed Colbert in the 18-49 demo, Colbert's final episodes generated a significant ratings boost, peaking at 2.819 million viewers during a special host reunion. His ability to sustain audience numbers against industry trends underscores his remarkable tenure.Show More Late night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and Seth Meyers appeared on "Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in its second-to-last week.CBSStephen Colbert leaves late night as the king of the ratings, which made his cancellation even more confusing to industry observers. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has ranked No. 1 among total viewers for years, and hype over the series finale sparked ratings gains in recent weeks. According to Nielsen data, he finished the first quarter of this year with a small lead over ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which has seen viewership rise recently thanks, most likely, to President Donald Trump’s continued attac...