• by Wayne Friedman , March 8, 2017

Now five weeks in -- since the start of the Trump Administration -- CBS’ “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” continues its strong and surprising rise over other broadcast network shows in total viewers.

“Colbert” led with a Nielsen 3.003 million viewers for the week ending March 5 -- just ahead of NBC’s “Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” which earned 2.92 million.

Still, “Tonight” is still ahead in 18-49 viewers, a key metric TV advertisers use for media buys (along with the 18-34 viewers) -- earning 937,000 viewers for the most recent week. “Late Show” was at 709,000; “Kimmel” at 615,000.

TV analysts say Colbert is benefiting from high interest in the new presidential administration. Colbert has strong associations with political content -- something he was well-known for at his previous Comedy Central show “The Colbert Report.

ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” took in 2.351 million viewers for the most recent week boosted, in part, from high viewing on Monday night, which followed the controversy of the Oscar event on Sunday night. Kimmel hosted the Oscars event this year.

The five-week average for late-night programs shows “Late Show” at 2.97 million; 2.84 million for “Tonight” and 2.1 million for “Kimmel” -- which include one repeat broadcast in that period.