![Jimmy Kimmel, late night host [Image Credit: Jimmy/Flickr]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/10/23/660x290/b_502x220x82/jimmy-kimmel-late-night-host-image-flickr_1648285.jpg "Jimmy Kimmel, late night host [Image Credit: Jimmy/Flickr]")
Since October 23 is National TV Host Day on what would have been Johnny Carson's 92nd birthday, it is only fitting to bring people up to date on what is going on when it comes to the three late night hosts whose shows air at the 11:35 PM time slot every weeknight.
It is a matter of personal preference whether people watch Jimmy Kimmel on ABC, Jimmy Fallon on NBC or Stephen Colbert on CBS. American has spoken, and for the 2017-18 season, Stephen Colbert is now the most-watched host. Jimmy Fallon, who used to be the most watched, is down a whopping 31 percent.
Jimmy Kimmel is catching up.
Ratings of the late-night hosts
Just a year ago, Jimmy Fallon dominated the late night ratings with "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon." Within the first two weeks of this new season, the 43-year-old comedian had lost his footing on the same show that was always on top when the late Johhny Carson was at the helm. Jimmy Kimmel, who has been in third place, is still there, but he is reaping the benefit of Fallon's decline.
Jimmy Fallon
Fallon isn't getting the Trump ratings bump that the other late-night shows are getting at this time. It is no secret that Fallon does not pull the political jabs as well as the other hosts. However, he still does well with the younger crowd and advertisers are noticing that he remains the leader among viewers in the 18-to-49 age group.
Fallon’s broadcast is benefiting from the late-night advertisers who want to cater to that group of viewers. According to The Guardian just a week ago, Fallon averaged nearly 4 million viewers a night in 2015, and almost 3.5 million in 2016. In 2017, he’s pulling in just over 2.5 million a show.
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert tends to get the anti-Trump viewers mainly because of his commentaries about the president.
Therefore, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is the most watched at the moment, but that could change overnight for the 53-year-old comedian. The Nielsen data shows Fallon's average is down, but Colbert's average is up over what it was a year ago.
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel got a bump with his monologues on health care and gun control, but not enough to move the needle to get him out of third place.
Even though the 49-year-old comedian has picked up some viewers from Fallon, they have not been enough. Perhaps that will change if Fallon keeps slipping.
Johnny Carson
Since the late Johnny Carson was the best of the best when he hosted late night television over a 30-year period, it would be interesting to know what advice he would give these young guys who are doing what he did so well. No matter what their ratings are, let's pay tribute to the late-night hosts on National TV Host Day that was deliberated set up to be on Carson's birthday.
