Rosie O’Donnell ‘Kimmel’ Ratings Revealed: Is She a Hit or Miss?
What To Know
- Rosie O’Donnell’s debut as guest host on Jimmy Kimmel Live! drew the show’s highest ratings among guest hosts so far.
- Her monologue went viral online, amassing over 2.5 million views—more than double the previous guest host record.
- O’Donnell’s monologue’s have featured pointed jokes about Donald Trump, continuing their long-running feud.
Rosie O’Donnell‘s return to network television has been a resounding success, with her first night guest-hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live! drawing the biggest ratings of all guest hosts so far.
According to LateNighter, citing preliminary Nielsen Live+Same Day figures, Monday’s (August 17) episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! drew 1.87 million total viewers and 218,000 viewers in the key 18-49 demographic. This put O’Donnell’s debut episode at the top of the charts, with 62,000 more demo viewers than The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
That success also translated online, with O’Donnell’s Monday night monologue amassing over 2.5 million views as of writing. That is more than twice as many as the most-watched monologue from any previous guest host: Anthony Anderson‘s first monologue. Other guest hosts have included Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, and Colman Domingo.
O’Donnell’s numbers, both online and on broadcast, will only grow in the coming days, especially as delayed viewing is added.
However, while O’Donnell’s ratings are impressive, they haven’t quite matched Kimmel himself. Kimmel, currently on summer hiatus, regularly surpasses 2 million viewers in his Live+Same Day figures, and his monologues often top 3 million views on YouTube.
O’Donnell received a standing ovation as she made her debut as guest host on Monday’s show. During her monologue, she took shots at her long-time nemesis Donald Trump without ever mentioning him by name. Instead, she used nicknames like “Mango Mussolini” and “Oompa J. Loompa.”
The former View co-host also sarcastically thanked the president for bringing her back into the spotlight. “Couldn’t have done it without you, sweetie,” she said. “You brought me back, just like you did with fascism and the measles.”
Last year, Trump ranted against O’Donnell on social media after she decided to move to Ireland following his 2024 presidential election win. In a Truth Social post, the president threatened to take away O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship. He also attacked the comedian earlier this month, posting an AI video of himself as a doctor treating her for “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Weeknights, 11:35/10:35c, ABC
Conversation16 Comments
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G
Her restraint on Trump jokes was commendable. She would throw out one or two jokes about him at the start and then did her full monologues talking about everything but Trump. She even said it. Sorry that is all I am going to talk about you. Which undoubtably did irk him. Not getting more screen time in her monologue.
I'm sure part of her ratings success was people hoping she would roast and troll him. But she didn't. Classy.
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T
Agree with you 100%! I am indeed one of those who expected Rosie to roast Trump incessantly but was pleasantly surprised she mainly concentrated on her travails in her new home Ireland, instead.
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A
If her new home is Ireland, what she doing in America? Here for some more $.
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J
Jealous much?
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A
Classy and "Rosie"; what an oxymoron.
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M
Duh. Rosie is liked. Not by all, no one is, but by enough. I remember her comedy bits when I was a kid. I’d watch her on HBO, and yeah, I was too young, but she’s always been hilarious. Her and Bob Sagat were two of the filthiest comedians I’ve ever seen and they were/are incredibly funny.
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A
They were both were filthy...neither was funny. I prefer smart comedy.
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S
I think Jimmy Kimmel is one of the smartest people and best late night host on TV. No one can top him!!!
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A
Do you ever go watch all those past episodes of The Man Show? He's a huge hypocrite and sellout. Must be worth all that money he makes now.
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J
Did you ever do anything in your youth that you weren’t proud of later? No? That’s right, you were PERFECT your entire life. 🙄
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S
The only show worth watching is Greg Gutfeld. The rest all stink.
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G
So according to this writer Rosie uses restraint and humor talking about her TDS.
But President Trump rants and attacks her. Got it.
No bias there at all in this article.
BTW, we all know Gutfield is killing them all in the nightly ratings so it doesn't matter who is hosting on this show.
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D
Who is Gutfield? Never heard of them.
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J
He’s nobody. Republicans like to hold him up as the perfect comedian/talk show host. They’re jealous because most people - except MAGA - don’t know who he is. He will never be in the same universe as Colbert, Kimmel, Stewart, Meyers, and Oliver.
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C
I remember when she was funny. I didn’t watch her guest hosting spot because she’s been such a turn off with her rantings against the president. With so many “celebrities “ suffering with mental health issues, I hope she gets the help she needs.
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A
Yes, even she said her therapist told her to stop obsessing over Trump.
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