Late-night television has always thrived on surprise—unexpected jokes, celebrity cameos, and the occasional cultural firestorm. But Jimmy Kimmel’s return to Jimmy Kimmel Live! after suspension didn’t just deliver shock value. It delivered something even rarer in 2025: blockbuster ratings.

New Nielsen Live+3 figures reveal that Kimmel’s comeback episode on September 23 drew a staggering 8.6 million viewers, a total boosted by delayed viewing that shattered the show’s all-time record. For Kimmel, it was more than just a ratings win—it was a career-defining moment, the kind that cements a late-night host’s legacy.

And perhaps most importantly, it was the kind of audience number the late-night format hasn’t seen since Johnny Carson said his goodbyes in the early ’90s.

A Career High

Initial same-day ratings for Kimmel’s return were already strong. But the Live+3 totals, which account for viewers watching via DVR or on-demand within three days, sent the numbers into the stratosphere.

Total viewers: 8.6 million (up 2 million from the overnight tally)

Adults 18–49 demo: 1.5 million, translating to a 27% share

Total audience share: 32%, a level not reached in more than three decades

For perspective, Kimmel’s highest-rated shows before this rarely crossed 4 million total viewers. With 8.6 million, he doubled that milestone and set a benchmark that may be nearly impossible for his peers to match in today’s fragmented viewing environment.

Dominating the Week

Kimmel’s win wasn’t just a one-night spike. Throughout the rest of the week of September 22, Jimmy Kimmel Live! commanded the 11:35 p.m. time slot, averaging nearly 4.9 million viewers across three original episodes.

That’s more than double his average the week prior and far ahead of competitors. In the demo, Kimmel averaged 752,000 viewers, again comfortably leading the pack.

The victory was especially sweet given the context. Kimmel had been sidelined by suspension earlier in September following a controversial monologue, raising questions about his future. His triumphant return not only reassured ABC but sent a clear signal: Kimmel’s audience hasn’t gone anywhere—and they may be more loyal than ever.

The Competition Falters

While Kimmel soared, the rest of late night stumbled.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert averaged 2.66 million viewers, down 8% week to week. In the demo, he was steady at 244,000.

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon slipped further, averaging just 1.27 million viewers and 148,000 in the demo, with sharper declines among younger viewers.

Late Night with Seth Meyers, airing later, managed a modest bump with 1.04 million viewers and 108,000 in the demo.

On cable, Gutfeld! retained the crown at 10 p.m. with 3.25 million viewers but dipped nearly 8% from the previous week. The Daily Show had one of its softest weeks since its post-hiatus return, falling to 783,000 viewers and just 164,000 in the demo.

The clear story: Kimmel wasn’t just winning—he was dominating.

A Nod to Carson

Perhaps the most striking statistic is Kimmel’s 32% audience share. Late-night hasn’t seen numbers like that since the final run of Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show in 1992, when America tuned in to bid farewell to a legend.

Kimmel’s feat underscores how rare it is today for any network program—let alone a late-night show competing with streaming, YouTube, and social media—to command such a massive share of the TV audience.

It’s a throwback to the days when late-night was appointment viewing, and a reminder that the format can still deliver communal moments when the circumstances align.

The Suspension Effect

Part of what fueled the ratings surge was undoubtedly curiosity. Kimmel’s suspension earlier in September made headlines across the industry, with speculation swirling about whether he’d be able to bounce back. His return episode became must-see television, with fans eager to hear how he’d address the situation.

The controversy may have inadvertently supercharged interest. What might have been an ordinary Tuesday night broadcast became a cultural event, amplified by weeks of chatter and anticipation.

The ABC Boost

Kimmel’s ratings win didn’t just help him—it lifted ABC’s late-night lineup overall.

Nightline surged to 1.19 million viewers and 177,000 in the demo, buoyed by its strong Kimmel lead-in. That marked a 64% week-to-week jump in total viewers and a 102% leap in the demo.

The ripple effect proved that when a late-night anchor lands a big night, the benefits extend to the entire time block.

The Big Picture: Late Night in Flux

Kimmel’s triumph arrives during a period of upheaval in late night.

Stephen Colbert’s Late Show is on its farewell run after CBS announced its cancellation post-Paramount-Skydance merger.

Fallon is facing steady declines as The Tonight Show struggles to hold younger viewers.

Seth Meyers remains consistent but largely niche, his biting political humor appealing to a loyal but limited audience.

Cable shows like The Daily Show and Gutfeld! are fighting their own battles in a shifting media landscape.

In that context, Kimmel’s record-breaking night feels like both a victory lap and a statement: late night still has cultural muscle when the right mix of controversy, timing, and curiosity collide.

Can He Keep It Up?

The big question now is sustainability. Kimmel’s return episode was lightning in a bottle. The following nights, while strong, didn’t come close to the 8.6 million mark. His weekly average of 4.9 million, though impressive, will likely settle back down as the novelty fades.

Still, even that average represents a major step up from his pre-suspension numbers. If he can hold even part of that audience, Kimmel could enter a new era of dominance at 11:35.

Closing Thoughts

Jimmy Kimmel’s record-breaking return wasn’t just a ratings story—it was a cultural one. In a time when network television rarely delivers massive audiences, Kimmel proved that late-night can still stop people in their tracks.

His 8.6 million-viewer comeback episode is now the most-watched Jimmy Kimmel Live! in history, and the strongest late-night performance in more than 30 years. For ABC, it was a vindication. For Kimmel, it was career-defining. And for late-night as a whole, it was proof that even in an era of fractured attention, millions of people will still gather around the TV for the right host, the right controversy, and the right moment.