According to Monday’s Tonight Show, the smallest TV audience ever was average for an original episode of the show, according to early reviews. Jimmy Fallon drew just 947,000 total viewers last night.
Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” on CBS won the evening with 2.03 million viewers, according to the Nielsen’s Live + Same Day fast national numbers. ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” took second place among the late television programs with 1.67 million total viewers.
The numbers for each of the performances are subject to adjustment when the final figures are counted. It is expected to be available on Wednesday.
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Although this particular historical Nielsen data only dates from 1986, it is safe to say that Johnny Carson has always attracted more than a million viewers. These are very different periods. (Carson hosted The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992. Jay Leno took over in ’92.)
The previous low for an original ‘Tonight Show’ episode occurred on September 25, 2020 when Fallon reached 992,000 total viewers after a Stanley Cup final. The start of the episode was slightly delayed due to the live hockey coverage.
Prior to the post-hockey episode, the program’s record low was from August 18, 2020, when Jimmy drew 1 million viewers by the nose.
Yes, it was a rough ride for Fallon – especially in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Fallon used to be the king of late at night, but Colbert only overtook him in mid-November 2018. The alumni of the “Colbert Report” won that season.
Fallon on Monday welcomed guests Bill Burr, Rashida Jones and musical guest Old Dominion. The segments included ‘Life Coach’ with Burr and Fallon’s solo gag ‘Go On, Git’.
Last night, Colbert interviewed Chris Rock and broadcast a performance of singer Joss Stone. Over ‘Kimmel’, the guests were ‘This Is Us Star’ Milo Ventimiglia and CNN’s Jake Tapper, with Queen Naija as musical guest.
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Readers can check out Fallon’s Monday monologue below. Earlier, Fallon addressed President Trump to be permanently banned from Twitter and other social media platforms.
Find last night’s primetime ratings here. ABC won part that day.