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Shakeup in Late-Night Wars — First Time in 17 Years This Has Happened

Dec 2, 2011  •  Post A Comment

A shakeup has occurred in the late-night wars, with a milestone taking place for the first time in 17 years, Deadline.com reports.

The two flagship late-night talk shows — CBS’s “Late Show with David Letterman” and NBC’s “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” — traded places in the November sweeps ratings, with Letterman claiming the No. 1 spot in the key demo of adults 18-49 for the first time since the show’s second season in 1994.

Letterman scored a 0.9 average rating and a 4 share in 18-49, along with 3.41 million total viewers, eclipsing Leno’s 0.8 rating and 3 share in the demo, although Leno averaged 3.60 million viewers.

Letterman’s “Late Show” was even with a year ago in 18-49 and down 8% in total viewers, while Leno’s “Tonight” may have felt some fallout from NBC’s recent prime-time struggles, slipping 20% in the demo and 4% in total viewers.

CBS also scored a win among the two networks’ lead-out shows, with its “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” topping NBC’s Jimmy Fallon-hosted “Late Night” in adults 18-49 with a 0.6 average rating and 3 share to a 0.5 rating and 3 share. Fallon led in total viewers, 1.73 million to 1.63 million.

ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” equaled Ferguson’s 0.6/3 in 18-49 and topped both rivals in total viewers with 1.97 million.

3 Comments

  1. To think that more people watch Craig Ferguson than Jimmy Fallon is very sad. Ferguson is as funny as a heart attack.

  2. And your opinion rules?

  3. And your point? You do know that ratings are based on viewer’s opinions, and the story does say Fallon had viewers. Which means there are fans. Which means some people will have this opinion. Don’t be so shocked or insulting because somebody left their opinion on a forum where you are supposed to leave an opinion. Not everyone will have the same opinion as you. Yours isnt better than this person’s. And they are allowed to post their opinion here bully

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