Rachel Maddow Makes a Run for the Top of the Ratings Chart Thursday, But Doesn’t Quite Reach First

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow almost topped the charts in total viewers on Thursday, but couldn’t quite reach the number one spot, as that went to Fox News superstar Tucker Carlson.

Tucker Carlson Tonight averaged 2.97 million total viewers Thursday, according to Nielsen data, and 496,000 in the valuable demographic of viewers age 25-54. The Rachel Maddow Show was second, with 2.81 million total viewers, and third in the demo, with 359,000. Hannity, guest hosted by Dan Bongino, was third in total viewers, with 2.69 million, and second in the demo, with 403,000. The Five was fourth in total viewers, with 2.41 million, and fifth in the demo, with 337,000. The Ingraham Angle was fifth in total viewers, with 2.01 million, and fourth in the demo, with 356,000.

Fox News was also first in total day viewers, with 1.55 million viewers total and 268,000 in the demo. MSNBC was second in total viewers, with 1.33 million, and 166,000 in the demo. CNN was third, averaging 818,000 total viewers, and was second in the demo, with 175,000.

Fox also took the lead in prime time, with 2.56 million total viewers, and 418,000 in the demo. MSNBC was second, with 2.1 million viewers total, and 254,000 in the demo. CNN was third, averaging 930,000 total viewers and 207,000 in the demo.

Fox and Friends was first in the early morning, with 1.17 million total viewers, and 218,000 in the demo. MSNBC’s Morning Joe was second, with 937,000 total viewers, and 99,000 in the demo. CNN’s New Day was third, with 498,000 total viewers and 97,000 in the demo.