Obama Leads Letterman to Ratings Win

[merh]

Obama Leads Letterman to Ratings Win
By BILL CARTER
Published: September 22, 2009

Landing an appearance by the president seems to be a game-changer at least for one show in late-night television. On Monday night, President Obama lifted David Letterman to his most-watched “Late Show” in four years, with a total of 7.218 million viewers.

That was more than enough to propel Mr. Letterman, on CBS, past his late-night rival on NBC, Conan O’Brien, in every audience category for the first time since Mr. O’Brien became host of the “Tonight Show” in June.

It also gave Mr. Letterman a bigger audience Monday than his longtime rival Jay Leno, whose new prime-time hour on NBC hit its lowest number to date, with 5.81 million viewers. (Mr. Leno can still claim precedence in one area, however. When he was still host of “Tonight” and Mr. Obama made the first late-night appearance by any sitting president last March, Mr. Leno attracted 14.6 million viewers.)

Mr. O’Brien wound up with 2.44 million viewers, his second-lowest total to date. In all the audience categories where he has beaten Mr. Letterman every night, he trailed Monday.

-snip-

more @ http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/business/media/23ratings.html

:thumbsup: :fistbump:

And Craig Ferguson (who is the funniest guy on t.v., imho, I love him) benefited too

Craig Ferguson attracted his biggest audience ever, with 3.24 million viewers.

:cheers:

[texasleo]

1. NBC messed up.

[merh]

2. you mean by putting Leno on at 9:00?

If that is what you mean, I agree.

[texasleo]

4. Yes. They wanted to get rid of him, despite him being on top for years.

Now they have a low-rated Conan and a mediocre-rated primetime show.

[merh]

5. Isn't it there way to save money?

To not have to pay to create any shows and pay the costs of production and salaries for that time slot for 5 days out of the week?

They don't realize - many shows that air at 9:00 pm have fans that are loyal.

Oh, and Leno isn't funny.

[loudsue]

11. Jay Leno has kissed the right wing ass for too many years.

I hope the whole lot of them fall off the map.

[glinda]

12. Leno keeps ripping off Letterman's ideas. Man has no class or originality.

[lpbk2713]

3. I'll be surprised if Conan still has a show this time next year.

He's just not funny. Not a good interviewer either.

[merh]

6. I'll be surprised if they keep leno show in the format it is now.

Maybe they will put him back in his old place as they tell Conan bye. Then again, Fallon is worse than Conan, imho.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

7. I switched from Conesy to Letterman for Obama last night.

[SeattleGirl]

8. But, but, I thought everybody in America hated Obama!

Did I miss the memo? :shrug:

:rofl:

[lpbk2713]

9. You really must stop listening to AM radio.

:hi:

[SeattleGirl]

10. Aw gee, but I like my brain all tied up in a pretzel knot!

:rofl:

[DainBramaged]

13. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

there hasn't been an original idea on late night Tee Vee in 20 years.

[merh]

14. true

if you could produce a show, what would you produce, what would be your original idea?