Byron Allen’s ‘Comics Unleashed’ beats Jimmy Fallon in key ratings measures

Byron Allen’s comedy panel show “Comics Unleashed” outperformed The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon among adults ages 18–49

On Tuesday, Oct. 6, Byron Allen’s CBS program “Comics Unleashed” reached a milestone, outperforming “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” across both key ratings measures for the first time since taking over Stephen Colbert’s former 11:35 p.m. time slot.

The comparison comes with important context. “Comics Unleashed” airs in two separate half-hour episodes, while Fallon’s ratings cover most of a longer broadcast. According to LateNighter’s report, the first “Comics Unleashed” episode drew 1.073 million total viewers and 161,000 adults ages 18–49. Its second half-hour, a repeat, attracted 873,000 viewers and 160,000 in the key demographic.

“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” averaged 1.018 million total viewers and 128,000 adults ages 18–49 across its reported hour. The half-hour comparisons provide a more detailed picture. Fallon led the total-viewer count from 11:35 p.m. to midnight, drawing 1.175 million viewers compared with 1.073 million for “Comics Unleashed.”

In the following half-hour, “Comics Unleashed” attracted 873,000 viewers, edging Fallon’s 848,000. Among adults ages 18–49, however, “Comics Unleashed” led in both half-hour comparisons.

LateNighter reported that the increase coincided with “Comics Unleashed” following new episodes of the CBS “NCIS” franchise for the first time since taking over the late-night time slot. Compared with Monday, the first episode rose 33% in total viewers and 173% among adults ages 18–49. The repeat increased 42% in total viewers and 272% in the demographic.

The figures represented the show’s best hour-long performance in households, total viewers and adults ages 18–49 since its May 22 premiere, according to LateNighter. ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” led the three programs in both reported measures, averaging 2.286 million total viewers and 234,000 adults ages 18–49 across its hour.

Its first half-hour attracted 2.787 million viewers, while the second drew 1.718 million. LateNighter also noted a ratings-measurement caveat. Nielsen excluded the final 14 minutes of Fallon’s 62-minute telecast because those minutes were reported separately as a “sustainer.” Including them would lower Fallon’s reported full-telecast average to 995,000 viewers.

Byron Allen’s ratings milestone highlights the changing landscape of late-night television.  Established network franchises and comedy formats are competing for audiences in different time slots.