Keep in mind that things can change a lot with these numbers, when the broader national numbers are released later, and we'll post those numbers if/when we see them. But last night, Leno tied Letterman in household rating in Nielsen's 56 metered markets 3.2 to 3.2.
In only the 25 markets with local People Meters The Tonight Show beat Late Show 1.2 to 0.9 with adults 18-49. We've seen cases where the 18-49 lead reversed once a broader slice of the country was included, and we've seen cases where the overnight numbers held up. We've seen both of those instances this week, so we'll have to wait and see.
- "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (3.2/8 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" (3.2/8) and out-delivered ABC's "Nightline (3.1/7) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (1.5/5) in Nielsen's 56 metered markets.
- In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (1.2/5 ranked #1 among the major networks in the time period over "Late Show" (0.9/4), "Nightline" (1.1/4) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (0.5/3).
- At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.7/6). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.6/4).
- At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.
Why don't you wait until the nat'l ratting come out? I'm sick of the Leno haters bitichn a terrible he is. Doesn't it also depend on the guest? Most of the time don't know who the hell these people are, and the music they both have on never herd of and they are horrible. I don't watch that reality shit.
Letterman's music guests have been fantastic lately. Sorry you've never “herd” of them, maybe you should try broading your horizons a little. And I usually just catch the msucial guest because I'm waiting for Craig Ferguson to come on. But yeah, Leno is terrible.
Craig, we may never see the fast affiliate numbers. If you don't like looking at the early results, don't look!
For whatever reason(s), it appears that some of those who watched Leno a year ago have not returned to watch him now.
Leno is sinking. His number are trendind downward. The Olympic/Palin/new show bump is losing it's luster.
And this is only his second week. Gotta love it.
I'm curious as to when will Leno step down because if he's pulling the same numbers as Conan was pulling (but with better lead-ins AND still under the return and oly halo), he'll have to agree he's being destructive to the franchise. That's what he said about Conan, for those who don't remember.
I LOVE CRAIGY FERG!
Also, I as much as I dislike Leno, I really think it's going to take at least a few weeks before there's a real “winner” in the situation. Judging from day to day has too many variables. However, I do think that the race is much tighter than it was a year ago. Leno's going to have to fight to be king again.
Jose and Chris you're in denial. Conan lost HALF the Tonight Show audience and was only getting 2.5 million viewers a night while even a down Leno is getting over 4 million viewers a night.
Conan was losing out the Leno is ALL age demos, even the youngest. Leno only told Oprah that all the attention is on him because of his prime time show and no one was paying attention to the fact that the Tonight Show audience lost HALF its audience.
Conan won't get a network TV job and Leno will stay on top of Letterman. CASE CLOSED!!
Clearly Leno wasn't a contributing factor.
Leno is the only one trying to do good, Letterman comes to work with his slippers on, tells the same lame jokes night after night and acts like who gives a rats ass? Not to mention Letterman makes twice as much as Jay Leno.
I no longer DVR Letterman I choose Jimmy Kimmel and Leno at least till Conan is back on.
Letterman doesn't make twice as much as Leno.
Hols – Sounds like you are staying on top of Leno, you need to stop!
You Leno fans trumpet his meager successes and then when he doesn't do so hot (the thing you were just bragging about) you turn to slamming Conan, rather than defending your pointy-chinned hero.
'John Doe just saved a baby cow! He's incredible!'
(Finds out John Doe murdered his family)
'Oh yeah? Well Joe Schmo didn't go to his son's ball game!'
It's cute that you actually believe that, despite all of the evidence staring you right in the eye. Never mind that O'Brien is, at the moment, selling out shows on a national tour within hours, while Leno has to mark his Vegas show tickets to half price to sell them. Never mind that Letterman caught up to Leno's ratings within a week. None of that reality actually matters, in the face of good ol' personal bias.
You're right, Holly. Jay Leno is the greatest comedian of all time and Conan O'Brien's children will starve penniless in the streets. Facts be damned.
I love how people are saying the “new show” effect has worn off. There really wasn't a “new show” effect. Viewers knew what to expect, and I'd say NBC is happy with how he is performing. Heck, at least he is winning in viewers, and in the demo!
Anyone who enjoys Leno, also enjoys probably the Black Eyed Peas, Dancing With the Stars, and goes to Applebees or dinner.
Seriously, its such a deal breaker for me. Yikes.Stecve
LOL…Erik, YOU are the one who can't even see the forest for the trees!
Conan lost MILLIONS of viewers in EVERY age demo compared to what Leno was pulling at the Tonight Show. Leno had kept the Tonight Show at number 1 for 15 years but soon after Conan took over he not only lost to Letterman but even lost to Nightline!! Don't give me the BS excuse about lead ins since Conan had 17 years to build a following but only average 1.9 million viewers at Late Night and was actually losing viewers to Craig Ferguson before he left Late Night!!
Even NBC exec. Dick Ebersol called Conan “a total disaster”. You can see why because for the first time in Tonight Show history Conan was on track to LOSE MONEY for the show!!
But go ahead and live in your delusional CoNON dream world Erik.
Dick Ebersol being the man who oversaw the Winter Olympics on NBC that lost $200 million.
The Tonight Show was delayed on the east coast because of basketball- or at least it was in my area. It didn't actually air on my local station until 12:35, so that probably had some affect on the ratings.
Being the most popular in no way determines quality. Conan and Letterman will be remembered as innovators and genuine comdeic talents whereas Leno will go down as a middle-of-the-road low-common-demonator courting brown noser who isn't respected by his peers. Even Carson didn't like him.
haha i knew Leno would fall soon enough!
take that letterman-conan haters!