how many people watched jimmy kimmel

The first new episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" since his suspension in September 2025 drew an impressive average of about 6.26 to 6.3 million viewers on traditional television. This viewership figure is more than three times the show's usual audience, despite the episode being preempted by several ABC affiliates covering around 23% of U.S. TV households. In addition to traditional TV viewership, Kimmel's opening monologue alone garnered over 26 million views on YouTube and other social media platforms, making the overall audience reach tens of millions. This episode marked the highest ratings for the show in over a decade in the key demographic of adults aged 18 to 49.