While all the noise about Jay Leno moving back to 11:30 hasn't done anything for The Jay Leno Show's 10pm ratings, perhaps the noise about whether Conan will stay or go has helped with The Tonight Show at 11:30. Last night Conan crushed Letterman in adults 18-49 (1.2/4 rating/share vs. 0.8/3) in Nielsen's 25 local markets with People Meters.
Jimmy Fallon (0.7/3 in 18-49) edged out Craig Feguson (0.6/3) at 12:30.
According to my scheduling info, all four shows were new last night.
Here's the video of Conan discussing the news/rumors:
That’s GREAT news. David’s audience must be much older because I don’t find his comedy funny at all! He deserves these great ratings. Maybe this will give more attention to the show.
Yeah! Down with Letterman!
Too little, too late I suppose…
Dave is the best and then there are “all the rest.”
Maste Moron? “Nuff said.”
GOOD. I LOVE Conan and I don’t want them to put Leno back into his old time slot. I’m just tired of that guy. I think it’s time he moves on!!!
I’m a Letterman fan, but I don’t watch on Fridays. He tapes those shows earlier in the week, so it feels kind of stale. I did watch some of Conan last night, and I like how he handled the controversy.
@Mark, I didn’t get to see it. Did he say or do anything?
Kind of a give-in, considering everything that’s been swirling around. I’m glad lots of people watched last night’s show because then perhaps they’ll want to watch Conan more. He was 100% himself last night like never before on The Tonight Show.
Matt, I meant to post it but never got around to it. I’ll add the video clip in the post above. I thought it much funnier than Leno’s blurbs in his monologue. (edit: video now added above!).
I guess fame and attention is always good.
I watched it and I usually don’t watch Conan. I was curious as to how he’d handle the rumors….plus I’m a Cera fan.
I thought Leno was funnier than Conan on this – perhaps its the delivery.
But I’m hoping that Coco and the Chin gets the green light. Sounds like a fascinating show! *g*
HAHA good job Conan. I love the jab at NBC at the end too…
I am not tracked by Neilson, but I was wondering if anyone could tell me how the following would be tracked:
I watch Ferguson from 12:37 to his first commercial break, then switch to Fallon. After 3 minutes, I switch back to Ferguson just in time for the beginning of his monologue. When he goes to commercials, I go back to Fallon for another 3 minutes. They’re pretty much synchronized so I never have to watch a commercial. How would the ratings be calculated?
How about Conan and Leno both leave NBC? How fun would that be? I’ve always rooted for NBC in the past, but that would just be hilarious.
“How about Conan and Leno both leave NBC? How fun would that be? I’ve always rooted for NBC in the past, but that would just be hilarious.”
No chance. Way too much money on the table at NBC for that, and nowhere near the same amount for both of them elsewhere.
That’s why it’s fantasy thinking Conan might go anywhere but, maybe, Fox. Nobody else can pay him *remotely* what NBC is committed to right now. Pride is one thing, walking away from an 8 digit check is something else entirely. Although sometimes stupidity trumps even large sums of money (see, Abdul, Paula).
I know, I know. But you have to admit, it’d be a hilarious kick to NBC’s groin.
Maybe Conan and Jay could just switch places and Conan could be on at 10pm. It’s not like he could do any worse.
I’m glad to see Conan holding its own, because I worry that if the Leno move back to late night happens there’s a chance it could kill the Tonight Show and I’d hate to see an institution that dates back to 1953-54 get killed off. And one way to kill it is to destabilize it. Remember no one liked Leno when he first took over the Tonight Show from Carson. If NBC and audiences give him a chance in a few years Conan and Tonight will be as inseparable as Leno and Tonight were by the late 90s.