The Conan O’Brien controversy gave NBC’s "The Tonight Show" a major ratings boost Tuesday night, reports The Wrap.

Preliminary ratings put O’Brien’s show at a 1.7/7 in adults 18-49 in Nielsen’s 25 major people meter markets, up 40% from Monday.

That nearly doubled David Letterman’s "Late Show," which had a 0.9/4.

— Allison J. Waldman