This is not, Not, NOT about politics. Seriously. It's not.

This (THIS) post is about media. 'THE' media. The business of media. Ratings. Money. Advertising. 

Jimmy Kimmel Live! Ratings for September 23, 2025

The episode of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* that aired on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, marked Kimmel's return after a nearly week-long suspension by ABC due to controversial remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The show received significant media attention and a standing ovation from the studio audience, featuring guests Ethan Hawke, Lisa Ann Walter, and musical performance by YUNGBLUD. However, overnight Nielsen ratings released the following day indicate it underperformed compared to recent averages, with early reports describing it as one of the host's weakest performances.

Total Viewers:  1.1 million+  Down approximately 35% from the show's September 2025 monthly average of 1.104 million viewers; aligns with broader late-night declines but no boost from the publicity.

Adults 18-49 Demo Rating:  0.14  Kimmel's lowest Nielsen household rating in show history; significantly below Q2 2025 average of 0.16 (or ~220,000 viewers in demo).

Online Engagement #13 most popular show. Ranked #13 overall online and #2 on ABC for the day, per social and streaming metrics (not TV viewership).

These figures reflect live + same-day viewing and are preliminary; final live +7 day numbers (including DVR/streaming) could adjust slightly upward but are unlikely to change the overall narrative of underwhelming performance. For context, Kimmel's year-to-date 2025 average is around 1.6 million total viewers, down 37% from 2015 levels, amid industry-wide shifts to streaming. The episode's monologue addressed free speech and the suspension, which drew mixed reactions online—praise from some for its emotional delivery but criticism from others for lacking humor.

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OK, Grok. Here is why I think this is impossible. First, I don't watch Jimmy Kimmel. At all. I did last night. My wife missed it, so I played it for her this morning (the recording). The 'world' was talking about the return of Jimmy Kimmel and how the ratings were going to be off the chart. The number (millions?) of people who never watched Jimmy Kimmel in the past, tuned in last night at 11:30 PM EST to see what's going on.
I was one of them.

Information about Jimmy Kimmel's ratings specifically for last night (September 23, 2025) is limited, as overnight ratings are not yet fully available. However, there is anticipation that his return to the air following a recent suspension could result in a ratings surge.

Before his suspension and return, Kimmel's ratings had been on a downward trend: His show's average viewership in August 2025 was 1.1 million, down from 1.95 million in January.

In the second quarter of 2025, Jimmy Kimmel Live! averaged 1.77 million total viewers. Compared to a decade ago, Kimmel's viewership has significantly declined, from 2.4 million viewers to the current figures. This decline is even more pronounced in the crucial 25-54 demographic, where his viewership has dropped by 72% over the past decade.

Other late-night shows like CBS's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Fox News' Gutfeld! have surpassed Kimmel in viewership. However, despite the overall decline, Kimmel's show still ranked first among adults 18-49 during the second quarter of 2025.

It is worth noting that viewership for all late-night shows has generally decreased over the past decade due to the rise of streaming and online content.
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I think it is safe to say that the EXISTING fans of Jimmy Kimmel tuned in last night, and the millions of people who never watch Jimmy Kimmel ALSO tuned in LAST NIGHT to see what was going to happen. When the dust settles, if last night's Jimmy Kimmel LIVE! did not set a ratings record, I need to rethink everything that I know about media, about marketing, and about just about everything I see or read online.

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