Ratings for Stephen Colbert’s Wednesday Late Show indicate the host is already losing major ground to NBC rival Jimmy Fallon with viewers 18-49, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The host’s expected strong debut performance did not carry over into the show’s second night, as The Tonight Show made gains among total viewers and pulled ahead with the much sought-after demographic.
Early metered market household ratings for Wednesday show Colbert dropped 35 percent from an initial 4.9 rating to a 3.2 rating, virtually tied with Fallon, who brought in a 3.1 rating Wednesday.
It is too early to tell if Colbert’s honeymoon stage with late night fans has come to an end, and as THR points out, Fallon might have been boosted by hosting actor and singer Justin Timberlake Wednesday.
Final ratings are expected to come out late Thursday, and experts expect Colbert and Fallon to be pretty evenly matched with, with an overall advantage to Colbert, while Fallon will win with the key demographic.
Colbert’s showing with viewers 18-49 dropped from 1.5 Tuesday to a 0.8 Wednesday.
The competition is far from over, and Colbert will host Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday, while Republican frontrunner Donald Trump will pay a visit to Fallon on Friday.
This week’s early late night ratings, according to Entertainment Weekly:
Household Ratings
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: 2.4 (Tuesday), 3.1 (Wednesday)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: 4.9 (Tuesday), 3.2 (Wednesday
Jimmy Kimmel Live!: 1.4 (Tuesday), 1.5 (Wednesday)
18-49 Rating
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: 0.8 (Tuesday), 1.2 (Wednesday)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: 1.5 (Tuesday), 0.8 (Wednesday
Jimmy Kimmel Live!: 0.4 (Tuesday), 0.5 (Wednesday)