In a bold display of defiance, late-night TV hosts are not only surviving but thriving under the weight of attacks from former President Donald Trump and his allies. But here’s where it gets controversial: Are these viewership spikes a testament to the hosts’ resilience, or are they simply a byproduct of the political drama surrounding their shows? Let’s dive in.
Jimmy Kimmel’s recent ordeal is a perfect case study. After returning from a brief hiatus, Kimmel’s comments about a controversial figure led to his show being pulled from the air by Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group, and ABC on September 17. Yet, his viewership numbers told a different story. During the week of September 15, his show averaged 1.96 million viewers, a notable increase from the previous weeks’ averages of 1.56 million and 1.43 million, respectively. And this is the part most people miss: When Kimmel returned to ABC on September 23, his viewership skyrocketed to an average of 4.21 million viewers for the week of September 22, with his comeback episode alone drawing 6.26 million viewers in live-plus-same-day viewing. This surge was further amplified by the inclusion of Nielsen’s new big data measurement, though it’s hard to ignore the impact of the surrounding controversy.
The debate over free speech, sparked by Kimmel’s suspension, drew in heavyweights like FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Disney CEO Bob Iger, and Trump himself. This national conversation undoubtedly fueled interest in Kimmel’s return, but it also raises a provocative question: Are viewers tuning in to support the host, or are they simply drawn to the spectacle? Interestingly, even though Nexstar and Sinclair delayed restoring the show to their channels until September 26, Kimmel’s return still generated massive numbers, with over 15 million YouTube views by the next day. This suggests that the audience’s appetite for late-night TV extends beyond traditional platforms.
While Kimmel’s ratings did dip slightly in the week following his return—a natural occurrence after such a high-profile comeback—his year-over-year quarter ratings remained steady. This consistency highlights the enduring appeal of late-night shows, even in the face of political pressure.
Kimmel isn’t alone in this phenomenon. Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show saw a similar boost after CBS abruptly canceled the show in mid-July, following Colbert’s criticism of the network’s settlement with the Trump administration. Viewership jumped by 19.4% in the week after the cancellation, reaching 3.06 million viewers, and remained elevated in subsequent weeks. Even as the show enters its final season, ending in May 2026, its third-quarter viewership is up 14% year-over-year.
Here’s a thought-provoking question: Does political controversy inherently elevate late-night TV ratings, or are these hosts simply tapping into a broader cultural conversation? NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night With Seth Meyers also held steady, with viewership spikes coinciding with NFL lead-ins. Meanwhile, the power of late-night unity was on full display when Colbert and Meyers appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 30, drawing 2.46 million viewers.
Beyond late-night TV, other platforms are seeing significant gains. The 2025 MLB Wild Card Series on ESPN attracted 4.63 million viewers, a 64% increase from the previous year, with particularly strong growth among younger audiences. Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest made a quiet but impactful debut on Apple TV+, ranking as the 7th most-watched streaming movie during its opening week. And Prime Video’s NFL Thursday Night Football game between the 49ers and Rams averaged 14.79 million viewers, peaking at 17.01 million—the highest ever for a Thursday night game on the platform.
What do you think? Are these viewership spikes a reflection of audience loyalty, or are they driven by the allure of controversy? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation!
