LD. HE’S NOT THE MOST FOLLOWED HOST — BUT HE’S THE MOST WATCHED. GREG GUTFELD LEADS LATE-NIGHT IN RATINGS ONCE AGAIN While Colbert and Kimmel dominate headlines — and TikTok feeds — it’s Greg Gutfeld who’s consistently pulling in the biggest audience on TV. With 2.8 million viewers tuning in nightly on Fox News, Gutfeld! is beating all the major network players, and doing it without chasing viral soundbites. His mix of political jabs, roundtable riffs, and anti-mainstream tone has made him a fixture with the traditional cable crowd. So the question becomes: is viral relevance overrated when you’ve got millions actually watching live?
While other hosts chase digital clout, Fox News’ Gutfeld! continues to top the ratings by sticking to a more traditional playbook — and it’s working.
When most people think of late-night TV in 2025, they picture viral monologues, celebrity segments optimized for YouTube, and political jokes engineered to trend within minutes of airtime. But while many hosts are chasing online engagement, Greg Gutfeld is quietly winning the late-night ratings war — not by going viral, but by going old-school.
According to Nielsen data for October, Fox News’ Gutfeld! averaged 2.825 million nightly viewers, outperforming long-running network staples like Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which each pulled in 2.1 million viewers, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which trailed with 1.2 million.
The numbers tell a clear story: in the world of linear TV, Greg Gutfeld is king of late-night.
Not Your Typical Late-Night Show
What makes Gutfeld’s ratings success so fascinating is that Gutfeld! doesn’t look or feel like a traditional late-night talk show. Airing on Fox News — a network more known for political commentary than punchlines — the show blends news satire, monologues, and panel-style banter rather than celebrity interviews and musical guests.
Yet, it works.
Airing immediately after Hannity and The Ingraham Angle, Gutfeld! benefits from a loyal Fox News audience that sticks around for his brand of conservative humor, commentary, and unapologetically pointed takes on the day’s events. It’s a format more akin to The Five than The Tonight Show, but in today’s fragmented media landscape, that’s exactly what gives it an edge.
The Viewership Divide: Cable vs. Clips
While late-night stars like Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers dominate on digital platforms — racking up millions of views on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram — their TV ratings have plateaued or declined in recent years. In contrast, Gutfeld’s show maintains a steady, older-skewing audience that still tunes in the old-fashioned way: live on cable TV.
It’s not that Gutfeld doesn’t have a digital presence — he does. But his show’s success isn’t driven by viral content or online discourse. Instead, it’s rooted in a traditional television audience that prefers appointment viewing over algorithm-curated highlights.
That contrast makes direct comparisons tricky. Kimmel or Colbert may appear to “win the conversation” online, but when it comes to who’s actually watching night after night, Gutfeld! has the numbers to back up its dominance.
Why the Format Works
One of the key reasons Gutfeld! has emerged as a ratings powerhouse is that it offers something that other shows rarely do: a right-leaning perspective in a space long dominated by liberal voices.
Late-night television has increasingly skewed progressive in tone, with Colbert, Kimmel, Meyers, and Stewart all known for their critiques of conservative politics and former President Donald Trump. For viewers seeking a different take — or simply a reprieve from what they see as monolithic messaging — Gutfeld fills a void.
The show also benefits from the built-in audience continuity of Fox News’ primetime lineup. Viewers already tuned in for opinion programming at 8, 9, and 10 p.m. often stick around for Gutfeld at 11 — and that consistency has translated into consistent ratings.
The October Numbers: A Closer Look
Here’s how late-night stacked up in October 2025, based on nightly average viewership:
- Gutfeld! (Fox News): 2.825 million
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC): 2.1 million
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS): 2.1 million
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC): 1.2 million
It’s not just a lead — it’s a comfortable one.
What’s more, Gutfeld’s numbers aren’t buoyed by big-name celebrity bookings or musical acts. The show’s consistent viewership is a testament to its unique blend of comedy, current events, and conservative commentary — and to the loyalty of its core audience.
What It Says About the Late-Night Landscape
Gutfeld’s rise marks a noticeable shift in late-night television — not just in tone, but in strategy. While network shows are increasingly built around clip-friendly formats that prioritize viral potential, Gutfeld! leans into the talk-show-as-news-commentary model.
It’s also a reminder that not all audiences consume media the same way. Younger viewers might stream Colbert’s monologue at lunch or catch Fallon’s games with celebrities on TikTok, but a large, influential slice of the population still watches late-night TV the way they always have: sitting down at 11 p.m. and flipping on the cable box.
And in that world, Gutfeld reigns supreme.
The Politics of Punchlines
Whether or not viewers agree with Gutfeld’s political slant, there’s no denying he’s struck a chord with his audience. In a media landscape where late-night comedy has become an extension of political discourse, Gutfeld has managed to turn his corner of Fox News into a destination — and do so without chasing the social media buzz.
It’s not that the other hosts are doing something wrong. Colbert, Kimmel, Fallon, and others are operating in a digital-forward model that favors short-form engagement and streaming audiences. But Gutfeld! proves that there’s still space for old-fashioned TV success — and that the audience for political satire doesn’t only live on the left.
Final Thought: Ratings, Relevance, and What Comes Next
While Gutfeld! may not always dominate the trending tab, it does dominate the ratings — and that distinction matters in a television industry still driven by ad revenue and viewership metrics.
As late-night TV continues to evolve, Greg Gutfeld’s steady success raises a key question: Is viral reach more valuable than consistent viewers?
For now, at least one thing is clear: In an era where everyone else is chasing trends, Greg Gutfeld is winning the race by sticking to his lane — and doing it the old-fashioned way.
