Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ Out-Draws ‘Tonight Show’ Viewers for First Q1 Win Since 2010

Jimmy Fallon’s now the one with a hill to climb if he wants to crush CBS competition again

“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” just won the first quarter of 2017, the first time the CBS late-night series could claim such a total-viewer victory since 2010.

Stephen Colbert’s vehicle averaged 3.29 million overall audience members across the first three months of the year, per Nielsen’s “most current” TV Ratings metric. “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” posted an average of 3.03 million.

In case you were wondering, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” brought up the rear with 2.256 million.

Jimmy Fallon crushed Colbert last year, but the CBS vehicle rose 17 percent year over year — thanks, President Trump! In Q1 2016, Fallon beat Colbert by an average of 840,000 total viewers per episode. This time around, the 1-2 ranking was reversed, with a difference of 260,000 overall audience members in favor of the “Colbert Report” alum.

Of course, Fallon still dominates the 18-49 demographic, which is the preferred age range for advertisers. Per that measurement, “Tonight” averaged a 0.75 rating and 4 share, versus “Late Show’s” 0.58/3. Kimmel was again third with a 0.49/3.

Looks like the late-night wars are back on.

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