For CBS’ “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and “The Late Late Show With James Corden,” the mild Super Bowl boost appears to have already vanished.
In terms of overnight household and major market adults 18-49 ratings, Tuesday’s episodes were down from Monday’s broadcasts. “Colbert,” moreover, trailed last Tuesday’s episode in both columns.
Tuesday’s “Colbert” drew a 2.1 overnight household rating in the 56 metered markets and 0.4 adults 18-49 rating in the Top 25 markets. It was a distant second in households (behind NBC’s “Tonight Show,” 2.8) and third in adults 18-49 (behind “Tonight Show,” 0.7, and “Kimmel,” 0.5).
Monday’s episode posted a 2.7 overnight household rating and a 0.7 adults 18-49 rating. Last Tuesday’s “Colbert,” meanwhile, drew a 2.2 and 0.5, respectively.
And while one may be inclined to note that last week’s “Colbert” benefited from facing a “Tonight Show” re-run, it is not as if “Colbert” had been drawing dramatically weaker numbers against “Tonight Show” originals. The January 26 episode drew a 1.9/0.4, while the January 19 broadcast posted the same 2.1/0.4 as this week’s episode.
In short, “Colbert” is essentially back to its pre-Super Bowl levels.
— Tuesday’s “Corden” drew a 1.1 overnight household rating and a 0.2 adults 18-49 rating in the Top 25 markets. It trailed NBC’s “Late Night” (1.3, 0.4) in both columns.
Monday’s episode posted a 1.3 overnight household rating and a 0.3 major market adults 18-49 rating. Last Tuesday’s episode drew a 1.0 and 0.2.
To illustrate the absence of a boost, it is worth noting that the Tuesday, January 26 “Corden,” which was an encore, actually beat this week’s original in adults 18-49. It drew a 1.0 overnight household rating and a 0.3 major market demo rating.
Late night show ratings can fluctuate greatly based on guests and lead-in. The key takeaway here, however, is that “The Late Show” and “The Late Late Show” are already back within their typical ranges.