Last Night On
Fansided

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ratings rise for Trump inauguration episode

By Hector Cruz

NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Chris Matthews during Thursday's 01/19/16 show in New York. (Photo by Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images)
NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Chris Matthews during Thursday's 01/19/16 show in New York. (Photo by Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Stephen Colbert’s Late Show came out on top with households for most of Obama’s final week in office and Trump’s inauguration.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has continued to struggle in the ratings in the new year, nearly matching a series low for the week of Jan. 9, but it managed to bounce back last week thanks to the U.S. presidential transition. In a week which saw Colbert briefly revive his Colbert Report character to thank President Obama before he left office and later mercilessly mock Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day events, the late-night talk show took the top spot among households in the metered markets, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The Late Show came in first place four out of five nights (including a tie), culminating in a dominant performance on Friday following the swearing-in of the new president, drawing a 2.9 rating among households, the show’s highest metric since Trump visited the show in September 2015. That’s up 21% compared to same night last week and 16% compared to same night last year. While The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon still led the way in the coveted 18-49 demo (0.8), Colbert did manage to draw a stronger than normal 0.6 rating, his best showing in three months since October 20, 2016, tying Jimmy Kimmel Live for second place.

Next: Stephen Colbert plays “La La Land or Nicki Minaj” with Billy Eichner

Unfortunately, CBS stopped the momentum by giving Colbert this week off despite a slew of news coming from the new administration, including numerous executive actions, Twitter threats, and continued talk of alleged voter fraud, which the host is no doubt wishing he could comment on. The Late Show returns next Monday, Jan. 30 with Leslie Mann and Lewis Black. Other guests throughout the week will include Rachael Ray, Priyanka Chopra, Thomas Sadoski, Dan Levy, Christina Ricci, Dr. Phil, Michael Bolton and Ricky Gervais, among others.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on CBS.

Home/Late Show