“Jimmy Kimmel Live” tops the late night ratings

“Jimmy Kimmel Live” has secured the No. 1 spot in late night among adults 18-49 for the third week in a row, continuing a strong performance in the key demographic, according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data for the week of March 9.

The ABC late-night staple delivered a 0.16 rating among adults 18-49, marking its third straight weekly win and sixth win in the demo over the past seven weeks. The performance signals renewed momentum for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after a turbulent period last year when the show was temporarily taken off the air.

In September 2025, ABC suspended the program after host Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue comments about President Donald Trump and responses to the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk sparked backlash from conservative groups and political figures. The move came amid pressure from regulators and some broadcast groups, with several affiliates refusing to air the show even after it returned.

Since its return, the show has regained traction on both linear television and digital platforms. A March 5 episode featuring “Scrubs” stars Zach Braff and Donald Faison, along with comedian Chris Fleming, ranked as the top broadcast over the three weeks with a 0.21 rating in the demo.

Digital performance has also remained strong. As of 2026, the show’s YouTube channel has been viewed more than 281 million times, with nightly monologues averaging more than 4.4 million views.

Year after year, the show posted double-digit gains, increasing total viewers by 22% to 1.91 million and 45% among adults 18 to 49. Season to date, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” is also up in both metrics, up 20% in total viewers to 1.99 million and up 20% in the demo compared to the same period last season.