Jimmy Kimmel’s ratings surge has officially gone flat.
Disney briefly suspended ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! last month after the host’s remarks about Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin triggered widespread backlash. When Disney reversed course, Kimmel’s heavily promoted return on September 23 drew a massive audience.
But the honeymoon was short-lived.
By Thursday, Oct. 2, Jimmy Kimmel Live! averaged just 1.9 million viewers — a staggering 71% drop from his comeback episode.
Among the key 25–54 demographic, the collapse was even worse: 265,000 viewers, down 85% from the 1.7 million who tuned in on Sept. 23. It was Kimmel’s weakest demo performance since the suspension.
Before the controversy, Kimmel averaged 1.6 million viewers in 2025. If the slide continues, the show will fall back to pre-scandal levels.
Meanwhile, Fox News’ Gutfeld! dominated the same night, pulling in 2.8 million total viewers — 49% higher than Kimmel — and topping him by 40% among the coveted demo, with 370,000 viewers.
Kimmel was suspended after falsely suggesting that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old charged in Charlie Kirk’s assassination, was part of the “MAGA gang.” Court filings later confirmed Robinson’s left-wing ideology, contradicting Kimmel’s claim.
More over at Fox News:
Jimmy Kimmel nears pre-suspension viewership, sheds 85% of key viewers since hyped comeback show – https://t.co/fNu6ML82Us
— MIKE LEACH (@michaelaleach) October 7, 2025