Fox News host Greg Gutfeld has officially dethroned legacy late-night stars to become television’s most-watched comedy figure – and industry analysts say his anti-establishment approach explains why.
Variety’s explosive new cover story declared the 60-year-old commentator “late night’s new king” after Gutfeld! averaged 2.12 million nightly viewers in 2024 – outperforming ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel (1.6M), NBC’s Jimmy Fallon (1.3M), and CBS’s Stephen Colbert (1.8M). The show also leads among adults aged 25-54 despite airing earlier at 10 PM ET.
The Blueprint Behind the Takeover
- No A-List Guests Needed: Unlike competitors reliant on Hollywood promotions, Gutfeld relies on recurring co-hosts like libertarian commentator Kat Timpf and former wrestler Tyrus
- Time Slot Revolution: Airs simultaneously nationwide instead of tape-delayed slots favoring coastal audiences
- Unfiltered Comedy: Tackles culture war topics mainstream hosts avoid – from transgender sports debates to “woke” corporate policies
“Celebrities have too much to lose to let their guard down on a show like mine,” Gutfeld told Variety. “If I had Ryan Reynolds here discussing trans issues, he’d be calling his publicist mid-segment.”
From Print Castoff to Cable Titan
Gutfeld’s path included getting fired from Stuff magazine in 2003 after hiring dwarves to disrupt an industry conference – a stunt that foreshadowed his anti-woke brand. His 2007-2015 run hosting Fox’s cult hit Red Eye became a testing ground for his combative style.
| 2024 Ratings Milestones | |
|---|---|
| Gutfeld! + The Five | 5M combined viewers |
| Adults 25-54 demo lead | 32% over Colbert |
| YouTube clips (30-day avg) | 18M views |
The host credits his success to avoiding “resistance humor” targeting Trump: “Liberals own pop culture – conservatives own conversation.” Media analyst Walter Kirn notes: “By distinguishing himself ideologically, Greg has half the country to himself.”
Controversy & Staying Power
While criticized for inflammatory remarks about Ukraine coverage and Florida’s slavery curriculum, Gutfeld’s loyal audience keeps growing. As traditional networks struggle with cord-cutting, Fox plans to expand his role with a 2025 comedy tour launching March 15 in Indiana.
