Conan's last turn as host of The Tonight Show garnered a 4.8 rating with adults 18-49 in the 25 local markets with Nielsen people meters.
If those numbers hold up, not only is it a series high with adults 18-49 it's 85% higher than the previous series high set Thursday night (2.6 rating), it's over 40 percent better than the 3.4 rating with adults 18-49 Jay Leno got in his not-so-final Tonight Show after all on May 29. Leno's not-so-final episode also scored nearly 12 million viewers. Viewer numbers for last night's episode won't be available until late next week.
Not only was it better than all the late night and primetime competition on Friday -- not really a huge feat with most networks broadcasting the Hope for Haiti Now benefit between 8p-10p, it was also a better 18-49 rating than any show got on Thursday night.
Update: the previous series high, at least in final numbers (again the numbers above are preliminary) was a 3.8 rating with adults 18-49 for Conan's Tonight Show premiere last June.
Conan’s totally getting a call from FOX soon.
Well, I hope Conan gets another late night show right away (to start in September). He is better than anybody currently on the air.
That’s crzyes!
Look I can’t even spell it.
Conan is NOT better than Ferguson. Ferguson is a comedy genius. Conan is a nerd writer who got lucky.
Excellent numbers. He deserves it. By the way, you said yesterday that his 2.6 demo was a series high for Conan. REALLY?! So what was the demo for the premiere of the show, 7 months ago? thanks.
4.8 ??? W-O-W! It did almost better than “The Jay Leno Show” premiere (5.1)
A fitting end to his TV career.
Yes, he “got lucky” by getting a job at SNL. And he “got lucky” writing for the Simpsons. And he “got lucky” by getting a late-night show. And he “got lucky” that in 1994, NBC thought so highly of him that they promised him the Tonight Show. And he “got lucky” with last night’s ratings.
What a hack. :rolleyes:
Great for Conan. Last night’s show was hilarious and very moving.
If he wouldve done these ratings in the 1st place we wouldnt be in this mess.
Good for Conan. Last night’s show was good and kind of bittersweet. He was very much a professional. I don’t care for Conan but I have to admit he’s been really good as has the show the past couple of weeks. It’s like this whole mess unpopped the cork out of Conan.
Can’t wait till he gets to FOX, I only watched him these past two weeks and I LIKE HIM..Go FOX and welcome to Conan (Hopefully)
E- my bad, it was wrong to say Thursday was a series high, though it was the highest since Conan’s premiere in June. The premiere episode was the previous high with a 3.8 rating with adults 18-49.
Ferguson is a riot. I’m talking lol funny. I’ve never hated Conan. He’s quirky and more times than not, hits ‘em outta the park. He’s not that bad. I actually like them both better than Letterman OR Leno. While Letterman is funny, he’s predictable. Leno? Sophomoric. Unoriginal.
This is the way you want to go out. With a great show and great ratings. Good luck my friend.
Happy for him since that was the end of his career
Although Conan won’t be able to have his own show until September, I wonder if he would be legally able to guest host on The Late Show before September.
Letterman only has used guest hosts when he was away for health reasons (quintuple bipass, the shingles), but I wouldn’t be surprised if Dave would want Conan to guest host against Jay when he returns to the Tonight Show.
Just a pipe dream, but wouldn’t that be cool?
Robert I don’t think Conan has indicated he’s leaving show business.
@Worldwide Pants,
No, having Conan as a guest host in March is a terrible idea, since he won’t be able to say anything bad about NBC. Dave should have him on as a *guest* — preferably on March 1, the day of Jay’s return — because Dave can say whatever the hell he wants.
Funny that some people are on here are calling this “the end of his career.” They must be ignorant or just blind to all the people that want Conan right now. There’s definitely a future for him and I can’t wait to see what it is.