Part 6/10:
When dissecting the actual data, it's evident that Kimmel's audience is shrinking drastically. A comparison reveals that with Colbert running mostly reruns, Kimmel's numbers have been artificially sustained. When Colbert returns with fresh content, the ratings are expected to collapse even further, likely bringing Kimmel below 2 million viewers, possibly around 1.5 million or less.
The disparity between Kimmel's reported "lead" and the actual viewership points toward an industry-wide effort to maintain a positive facade. The truth is, the show's ratings are in free fall, and the only thing temporarily holding him up is the reruns of his competitors.