Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show has been struggling with falling ratings for months, and now Disney-owned ABC has suspended it after his controversial comments about Charlie Kirk. The host’s sharp drop in viewers has him trailing behind rivals like Stephen Colbert and Greg Gutfeld, raising big questions about the future of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Nielsen ratings paint a tough picture. In August 2025, the show hit a low of just 1.1 million total viewers—a whopping 43% drop from January’s 1.95 million. Kimmel’s household rating also tanked to 0.35, the weakest of the year. Even worse, the key 18-49 demographic that advertisers love averaged only 129,000 viewers in August, down from 212,000 in January and way below June’s peak of 284,000. Fans of late night TV shows know this group is crucial for keeping things fresh and relevant.
Kimmel’s contract with ABC runs until May 2026, part of a three-year deal he signed back in 2022. Reports say he earns between $15 million and $16 million a year, with bonuses that can push it over $20 million. Despite the indefinite suspension over his Charlie Kirk remarks, ABC hasn’t said anything about changing his pay. The network and Kimmel’s team haven’t commented yet when reached out.
This isn’t a new problem—viewership has been sliding all year. In 2024, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” averaged 1.77 million total viewers, a 2.3% dip from 2023. The 18-49 demo lost over 12%, landing at 221,000 nightly viewers. Compare that to CBS’s “Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” which topped broadcast TV with 2.57 million total viewers and 281,000 in the demo, even though it dipped a bit too.
NBC’s “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” came in with 1.37 million total viewers but stayed close to Kimmel in the younger crowd at 220,000. Over on cable, Fox News’ “Gutfeld!” dominated with 2.76 million viewers—keep in mind it airs at 10 p.m., when more people tune in. And Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” saw huge gains, up 84% in total viewers and 53% in the demo, thanks to Jon Stewart’s Monday returns.
Kimmel’s slide got steeper in 2025. He held steady through winter and spring, but things fell off since June. July averaged 1.23 million viewers, then August dropped below 1.2 million. Quarterly stats back it up: 1.82 million in Q1, down to 1.77 million in Q2. Summers are always slower for late night shows with reruns and vacations, but this feels like more than that.
Fans showed up to protest the suspension outside Hollywood’s El Capitan Entertainment Centre on Wednesday, proving Kimmel still has a loyal base. With his deal ending next year, everyone wonders if “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” can bounce back against these tough competitors in the crowded late night TV world. Stay tuned—things could get interesting.
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