Comedy Central’s long-running satirical news program The Daily Show has entered its fourth month of weekly hosts, following the departure of Trevor Noah whose seven-year hosting stint concluded on Dec. 8, 2022.
For Noah’s final week (Dec. 5-8, 2022), the 30-minute portion of The Daily Show averaged 441,000 viewers including 147,000 within the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The first batch of its guest hosts, which began in January, drew noticeably less than Noah (although still potent for today’s cable news demo levels) in comparison:
Leslie Jones (Jan. 17-19, 2023): 335,000 viewers; 129,000 adults 25-54
Wanda Sykes (Jan. 23-26, 2023): 343,000 viewers; 111,000 adults 25-54
DL Hughley (Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2023): 292,000 viewers; 107,000 adults 25-54
Chelsea Handler (Feb. 6-9, 2023): 306,000 viewers; 82,000 adults 25-54
Sarah Silverman (Feb. 13-16, 2023): 366,000 viewers; 121,000 adults 25-54
Following a one-week hiatus on President’s Week in February, it returned with a familiar face to loyal fans: Hasan Minhaj, former Daily Show correspondent from 2014-18 and host of his 2018-20 Netflix current events commentary show Patriot Act. Minhaj-hosted Daily Show episodes from Feb. 27 thru Mar. 2 averaged 341,000 viewers and 131,000 adults 25-54. As of Apr. 16, Minhaj’s week earned the best demo average of 2023 thus far.
Total viewership for Daily Show had seen slight gains from weeks prior with the hosts that followed, actor-comedian Marlon Wayans (Mar. 6-9: 359,000 viewers; 128,000 adults 25-54) and actor/former Obama staffer Kal Penn (Mar. 13-16: 369,000 viewers; 124,000 adults 25-54).
Coinciding with its return to Noah’s ratings levels from last autumn was the pending indictment of Donald Trump by a New York City grand jury. The news story of the charges against the former President who allegedly paid hush money to former porn star Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 election provided much fodder and content to The Daily Show.
Former SNL writer/cast member and former Senator Al Franken (D-MN) hosted the editions on Mar. 20-23 (averaging 438,000 viewers; 112,000 adults 25-54). The Mar. 22 edition was most notable, as its 472,000 viewer figure was the first to top any of Noah’s final two weeks; the 450,000 on Dec. 5th was the best Noah had mustered.
Actor-comedian John Leguizamo (384,000 viewers; 110,000 adults 25-54) took over the reins on Mar. 27-30. Then, one of the show’s current correspondents Roy Wood Jr. became host from Apr. 3-6. Two of his editions also bested the Noah episodes from late November and early December, in total viewers: Apr. 4th (468,000) and Apr. 6th (480,000); the latter of which was the program’s most-watched original telecast since the night President Barack Obama was a guest on Nov. 17, 2022 (501;000).
Wood Jr. delivered 425,000 total viewers including 109,000 adults 25-54 from Apr. 3-6, which also was the week of Trump’s arraignment in New York.
Cable news averages for March 20-25, 2023:
Total Day (Mar. 20-26 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 1.310 million viewers; 154,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 0.769 million viewers; 90,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.467 million viewers; 90,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.126 million viewers; 37,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.125 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.115 million viewers; 26,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.109 million viewers; 10,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.091 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
Prime Time (Mar. 20-25 @ 8-11 p.m.; Mar. 26 @ 7-11 p.m.)
- Fox News Channel: 2.065 million viewers; 234,000 adults 25-54
- MSNBC: 1.218 million viewers; 114,000 adults 25-54
- CNN: 0.539 million viewers; 116,000 adults 25-54
- Newsmax: 0.160 million viewers; 19,000 adults 25-54
- CNBC: 0.155 million viewers; 42,000 adults 25-54
- HLN: 0.141 million viewers; 35,000 adults 25-54
- The Weather Channel: 0.108 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
- NewsNation: 0.092 million viewers; 17,000 adults 25-54
- Fox Business Network: 0.065 million viewers; 11,000 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. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 3/20/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.408 million viewers
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 3/21/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.285 million viewers
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 3/22/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.196 million viewers
4. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 3/20/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.128 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 3/21/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.093 million viewers
6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 3/22/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.061 million viewers
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 3/23/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.972 million viewers
8. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 3/23/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.971 million viewers
9. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 3/22/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.828 million viewers
10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 3/20/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.769 million viewers
17. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 3/20/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.537 million viewers
166. Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO, Fri. 3/24/2023 10:01 PM, 57 min.) 0.863 million viewers
171. Mark Twain Prize “Adam Sandler” (CNN, Sun. 3/26/2023 8:00 PM, 120 min.) 0.854 million viewers
338. The Daily Show “Mar 22, 23 – Al Franken” (CMDY, Wed. 3/22/2023 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.472 million viewers
383. Kudlow (FBN, Tue. 3/21/2023 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.361 million viewers
405. Forensic Files (HLN, late Tue. 3/21/2023 12:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.322 million viewers
451. Closing Bell (CNBC, Wed. 3/22/2023 3:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.275 million viewers
468. Weekend Recharge (TWC, Sat. 3/25/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.257 million viewers
576. Tooning Out The News “Episode 118” (CMDY, Wed. 3/22/2023 11:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.199 million viewers
635. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Mon. 3/20/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.174 million viewers
711. Real Sports (HBO, Tue. 3/21/2023 10:00 PM, 59 min.) 0.145 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, Wed. 3/22/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.460 million adults 25-54
2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 3/20/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.439 million adults 25-54
3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 3/21/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.371 million adults 25-54
4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 3/23/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.348 million adults 25-54
5. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Wed. 3/22/2023 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.338 million adults 25-54
6. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 3/22/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.323 million adults 25-54
7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 3/24/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.321 million adults 25-54
8. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 3/22/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.316 million adults 25-54
9. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Wed. 3/22/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.304 million adults 25-54
10. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 3/21/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.298 million adults 25-54
19. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 3/20/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.249 million adults 25-54
29. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Tue. 3/21/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.220 million adults 25-54
141. Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO, Fri. 3/24/2023 10:01 PM, 57 min.) 0.133 million adults 25-54
165. The Daily Show “Mar 21, 23 – Al Franken” (CMDY, Tue. 3/21/2023 11:00 PM, 35 min.) 0.121 million adults 25-54
167. Forensic Files (HLN, late Tue. 3/21/2023 12:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.120 million adults 25-54
287. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1315” (CNBC, Sun. 3/26/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.092 million adults 25-54
388. Tooning Out The News “Episode 118” (CMDY, Wed. 3/22/2023 11:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.070 million adults 25-54
473. Weekend Recharge (TWC, Sat. 3/25/2023 11:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.056 million adults 25-54
489. Real Sports (HBO, Tue. 3/21/2023 10:00 PM, 59 min.) 0.054 million adults 25-54
570. The Big Money Show (FBN, Mon. 3/20/2023 1:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.042 million adults 25-54
586. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Thu. 3/23/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.040 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
