Greg Gutfeld’s Rapid Rise: 5 Surprising Facts Fueling the Late-Night Phenomenon

Greg Gutfeld has tightened his grip on the late-night landscape, extending a ratings streak that has network competitors scrambling for answers. According to Nielsen data compiled by industry site LateNighter, “Gutfeld!” averaged 7.16 million total viewers across 62 first-run episodes in Q2 2025—more than double the combined audiences of “The Tonight Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in the same period. Fox News executives credit the show’s momentum to its host’s contrarian humor and a steady rotation of culture-war stories that resonate with viewers who feel overlooked by traditional late-night fare. Media analysts note that Gutfeld’s numbers are being buoyed by a strong lead-in from “The Five,” where he also serves as a co-host, creating a seamless hand-off for politically minded audiences. Beyond the ratings war, Gutfeld is capitalizing on his newfound reach. Sources inside Fox News confirm talks of a nationwide theater tour in early 2026 and a forthcoming book—his sixth—that will dissect “comedy under cancel culture,” timed for next year’s election cycle. Meanwhile, his recent guest spot on “The Tonight Show” delivered Jimmy Fallon’s largest same-day audience of 2025, spiking the NBC program by 57% and underscoring Gutfeld’s crossover appeal. Critics remain divided. The Los Angeles Times argues that Gutfeld’s punch-line-first approach has “rewritten the rules” of late night, even as detractors accuse him of trafficking in outrage to drive clicks and clips. Yet the polarized reaction seems only to fuel engagement: social-media impressions for #Gutfeld trended upward by 38% week-over-week following a monologue linking rising grocery prices to White House policy. Looking ahead, Fox News insiders hint at possible expansion of the “Gutfeld!” brand—either an earlier Sunday edition or a streaming-exclusive segment aimed at younger viewers. For now, the self-proclaimed “King of Late Night” appears content to rule the 10 p.m. hour, where his blend of politics, punch lines and unpredictability shows no sign of losing its audience—or its edge.