Tucker Carlson’s Monday Night Episode — Covering Vaccines and WAP — Places First in Cable News Ratings Race

Tucker Carlson, who devoted segments of his show Monday to vaccine skepticism and rappers Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s performance of “WAP” at Sunday night’s Grammys, won big in the ratings race, with his nightly opinion show outpacing all other shows on cable news in both total viewers and in the key demographic of viewers age 25-54. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and CNN’s Anderson Cooper were in the mix, but Fox News continued to top the ratings charts with the most-watched shows overall Monday.

With nearly 3.2 million total viewers and 542,000 in the key demo, Tucker Carlson Tonight was the most-watched show in cable news, according to data from Nielsen. The Rachel Maddow Show was second in total viewers, with 3.03 million, and third in the demo, with 426,000. The Five was third, with 2.92 million total viewers, but didn’t quite make the top five in the demo, with 358,000. Hannity was the fourth most-watched show overall, with 2.85 million total viewers, and was second in the demo, with 450,000. The Ingraham Angle was fifth, with 2.18 million total viewers, and fourth in the demo, with 379,000. Anderson Cooper 360 was fifth in the demo, with 362,000, and 1.4 million total viewers.

Fox News won the day in total viewers, averaging nearly 1.6 million, and also in the demo, with 256,000. MSNBC was second, with 1.35 million total viewers, and third in the demo, with 169,000. CNN averaged 942,000 total viewers, and was second in the demo, with 231,000.

Fox also won prime time, with an average 2.74 million total viewers, and 457,000 in the demo. MSNBC was second, with 2.32 million total viewers, and was again third in the demo, with 301,000. CNN averaged 1.23 million total viewers in prime time, and was second in the demo, with 322,000.

MSNBC’s Morning Joe held on to its lead in total viewers, with 1.07 million, and 149,000 in the demo. Fox and Friends was a close second, with 1.06 million total viewers, and was first in the demo, with 192,000. CNN’s New Day averaged 533,000 total viewers, and 140,000 in the demo.

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