Stephen Colbert Late Show debut ratings top rivals, Letterman

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: Entertainment Weekly



The early numbers are in: Stephen Colbert got off to a strong start as the new host of CBS’ The Late Show.

According to Nielsen’s preliminary ratings provided by CBS, Colbert’s debut episode Tuesday evening averaged a 4.9 household rating among the major markets. That easily topped NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2.4) and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live (1.4).

Colbert was also up 123 percent from David Letterman’s Late Show premiere last year and was up 172 percent from Letterman’s episode that aired on the exact same evening last year.

Of course, the first episode of a new talk show host taking over an existing franchise should spike. The real test is in the days and weeks to come.

Read more: http://www.ew.com/article/2015/09/09/colbert-ratings

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It will be interesting to see where he lands.

CBS has the weaker affiliate network with lower rated local lead-ins, which always gave Leno a built-in advantage over Dave. I imagine, ultimately, Colbert will land somewhere in the same neighborhood once he's settled.

As much as I can't stand Fallon, he's got more general audience appeal over the more edgy Colbert.

-- BTW, for what it's worth:

Dave's finale got a 9.3 and 13.8 million viewers.
Dave's debut back in 1993 (with less cable and network competition than today) drew 23 million viewers.
Fallon's "Tonight" debut had a 7.1 and 11.31 million (with a boost from the Winter Olympics)
Conan's first "Tonight" had a 7.1 and 9.2 million (his finale drew 10.3 million)

Demo ratings are another story, and that's where CBS is hoping to improve over Dave's final seasons, where he was doing decently in overall viewers, but was losing the younger audience to Fallon.

[onehandle]

1. I watched. No cable box, but I have HDTV rabbit ears.

So they didn't count me. How many cable cutters did they not count?

My guess is that a significant portion of his fans are cable box free.

[geardaddy]

2. +1

We don't have cable either and we watched.

[No Vested Interest]

3. Sorry to say I was disappointed in this first show.

The George Clooney bit fell flat - not that funny at all.
Colbert did try to pin Jeb Bush down on where/what he disagreed with his brother GWB, and got an answer - but it was not compelling or particularly funny.

I'll keep watching for at least a while, but always with my finger on the remote.
I may prefer the alternates at that hour - Charlie Rose, Tavis Smiley (sometimes) or even C-Span.

[Flying Squirrel]

6. That's interesting because

My fiance and I were in stitches during the Clooney segment, I had tears from laughing. Guess everyone's different

[840high]

8. Yep - didn't grab me much.

[No Vested Interest]

9. Second night - tonight- had some high spots and others not so great.

I could do without seeing Scarlet Johanssen.
The hat bit was funny.

[840high]

10. No time for tv tonight. Will give

it another try later this week.

[Gumboot]

4. Watched it, wasn't impressed.

Found it too slow-paced and stale.

Not really sure who this show is targeted at any more.

[cheesehed]

5. Not surprised the ratings are so high

Really enjoyed the show! Haven't seen Colbert before.

[Flying Squirrel]

7. Beats the Mentalist

[840high]

11. Lay off my pretty

man - what's his name.

[Skittles]

12. ooh I love that guy

and his name is escaping me too

[patricia92243]

13. I thought he was too full of nervous energy, but I love him and am sure he and the show will

settle down with time.

I remember when Fallon first came on. He was stiff and uncomfortable to watch for the first two or three MONTHS until he settled into his own routine. Colbert will do the same.

[No Vested Interest]

14. Hope so. Colbert has a lot to offer. Plus, he's

friendly to Democrats.