The fate of Comedy Central’s late-night The Daily Show was thrown into flux last September when Trevor Noah — host of the program for seven years — made the surprise announcement that he’d depart the long-time show.
Because of the short notice, the network opted not to establish a full-time replacement at this time. Instead, The Daily Show will feature celebrity fill-in hosts each week, a la Jeopardy! In 2021, following the death of Alex Trebek.
First up, back on Jan. 17, was SNL alum Leslie Jones. Her first night drew 317,000 viewers including 145,000 in the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research. The Daily Show continued similar outputs in the days following, with Jones also hosting:
Wed. Jan. 18: 337,000 viewers; 108,000 adults 25-54
Thu. Jan. 19: 351,000 viewers; 135,000 adults 25-54
The levels remained consistent with actress-comedienne Wanda Sykes in the following week:
Mon. Jan. 23: 367,000 viewers; 111,000 adults 25-54
Tue. Jan. 24: 338,000 viewers; 85,000 adults 25-54
Wed. Jan. 25: 325,000 viewers; 123,000 adults 25-54
Thu. Jan. 26: 344,000 viewers; 125,000 adults 25-54
Jones’ three stints drew an average of 335,000 viewers including 129,000 adults 25-54. Sykes’ episodes averaged 343,000 viewers (111,000 adults 25-54)
Comedian D.L. Hughley’s first night hosting Daily Show (on Monday Jan. 30) delivered 290,000 viewers.
The fill-ins thus far, while they have drawn decent numbers, have not reached Noah’s final weeks’ levels. For Monday thru Thursday nights from Oct. 31-Nov. 17 and Nov. 28-Dec. 1, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah for 11-11:30 p.m. averaged 417,000 viewers and 149,000 adults 25-54. Noah’s final week (Dec. 5-8) posted 441,000 viewers (148,000 adults 25-54).
Nonetheless, Comedy Central should be satisfied with Daily Show’s recent deliveries, especially in key demos. As noted in the network averages at the bottom of this article, scoring such demo figures surpasses demo averages of each CNN and MSNBC
Cable news averages for January 16-22, 2023:
Total Day (Jan. 16-22 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.387 million viewers; 176,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.629 million viewers; 69,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.417 million viewers; 80,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.146 million viewers; 39,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.109 million viewers; 29,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.101 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.098 million viewers; 16,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.098 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Jan. 16-21 @ 8-11 p.m.; Jan. 22 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.996 million viewers; 256,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.943 million viewers; 91,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.444 million viewers; 93,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.175 million viewers; 47,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.161 million viewers; 53,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.113 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.112 million viewers; 21,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.087 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.058 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) in total viewers:
1. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 1/19/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.543 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 1/16/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.427 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 1/18/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.293 million viewers
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 1/19/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.276 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 1/17/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.266 million viewers
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 1/18/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.175 million viewers
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 1/17/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.138 million viewers
8. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 1/20/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.132 million viewers
9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 1/16/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.826 million viewers
10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Wed. 1/18/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.773 million viewers
50. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 1/16/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.686 million viewers
163. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 621” (HBO, Fri. 1/20/2023 10:00 PM, 56 min.) 0.799 million viewers
171. State Of The Union (CNN, Sun. 1/22/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.737 million viewers
364. The Daily Show “Jan 19, 23 – Leslie Jones” (CMDY, Thu. 1/19/2023 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.351 million viewers
379. Forensic Files (HLN, late Thu. 1/19/2023 12:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.326 million viewers
391. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1014” (CNBC, Thu. 1/19/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.305 million viewers
392. Varney & Company (FBN, Fri. 1/20/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.305 million viewers
533. Highway Thru Hell “(1103) Wreck And Rebuild” (TWC, Sun. 1/22/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.215 million viewers
698. Cuomo (NWSN, Thu. 1/19/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.153 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:
1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 1/19/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.496 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 1/17/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.490 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 1/18/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.406 million adults 25-54
4. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 1/19/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.393 million adults 25-54
5. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 1/18/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.390 million adults 25-54
6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 1/20/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.378 million adults 25-54
7. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 1/17/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.367 million adults 25-54
8. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 1/20/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.367 million adults 25-54
9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 1/16/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.367 million adults 25-54
10. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 1/16/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.366 million adults 25-54
72. Erin Burnett Outfront (CNN, Wed. 1/18/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.186 million adults 25-54
78. The Beat with Ari Melber (MSNBC, Thu. 1/19/2023 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.180 million adults 25-54
88. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 621” (HBO, Fri. 1/20/2023 10:00 PM, 56 min.) 0.169 million adults 25-54
110. The Daily Show “Jan 17, 23 – Leslie Jones” (CMDY, Tue. 1/17/2023 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.145 million adults 25-54
187. Forensic Files (HLN, late Thu. 1/19/2023 12:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.109 million adults 25-54
199. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 815” (CNBC, Thu. 1/19/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.105 million adults 25-54
514. Highway Thru Hell “(1103) Wreck and Rebuild” (TWC, Sun. 1/22/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.046 million adults 25-54
632. Cavuto Coast To Coast (FBN, Wed. 1/18/2023 1:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.035 million adults 25-54
845. Newsnation Prime (NWSN, Sat. 1/21/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.022 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
