Jimmy Kimmel Talks Late-Night TV Ratings and Future Plans

Jimmy Kimmel, the late-night talk show host, shared insights into the ongoing interest surrounding his show and others in the genre. He noted that many people are curious about what he and his peers have to say on air.

In a recent boast, Kimmel mentioned that his friend Stephen Colbert achieved the highest ratings ever recorded in a month shortly after departing from CBS.

Kimmel commented, “It’s kind of silly that folks get thrilled about podcasts hitting number five. That still doesn’t stack up against television show viewership.”

Colbert and Kimmel’s Dynamic

Colbert succeeded David Letterman as host of “The Late Show” back in 2015, a transition that came hurriedly after the network faced significant losses—around $40 million—leading to Colbert’s eventual exit in May.

When asked whether Colbert’s success impacted his own show’s ratings, Kimmel quipped to Variety, “I often think of our show as an orphanage.”

Kimmel also expressed the desire to have Colbert guest-host on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” this summer, although Colbert declined, citing that it might be too soon.

“Sure, I reached out, but I believe it’s a bit early,” Kimmel remarked. “I told him, ‘Whenever you want to host, even in summer, I’d gladly step aside.’

Melting Ratings

As June rolled in, some suggested that Colbert’s fans had switched their views to ABC, coinciding with Kimmel’s own rise to an average of 3.15 million viewers—a record high for the show over its 23-year run.

Kimmel expressed gratitude to CBS, saying, “Thanks for your keen judgment,” while also noting, “I was doing just fine before this, and it genuinely aided me.”

Overall viewership saw a 17% increase from May, particularly within the key 18-49 demographic.

During the interview, Kimmel also ventured into the podcast scene, expressing surprise at the popularity of his own numbers. “People seem overly excited about podcasts reaching fifth place. But again, those numbers can’t compare to television,” he reiterated.

“There are still plenty of viewers tuning in for late-night TV, and we have many folks catching our show on YouTube later. It feels like some familiar faces are coming back to TV,” he said, hinting at a broader reach for his content.

Summer Line-Up

This summer, Kimmel’s show will feature a variety of well-known guests, including Ike Barinholtz, Anthony Anderson, and Rosie O’Donnell, among others, including actor Colman Domingo and musician Jelly Roll.