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June 11, 2009
Hey, Let's Go Easy on Letterman...
Maybe he didn't make the Palin jokes to be a jerk. Maybe he just needed the attention.
Though overnight household ratings (which measure approximate overall viewership) have grown tighter between the two programs since O'Brien took over "The Tonight Show," newly released adult demo numbers portray last week's competition as an NBC blowout.The 18-49 numbers are especially brutal for Letterman.The advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 ratings give O'Brien a 2.3 average rating last week -- the highest-rated week for "Tonight" in more than four years and a 156% margin over CBS' "Late Show."
Even excluding the high-rated Monday premiere, "Tonight" held an 111% advantage over "Late Show," marking the best percentage advantage over the CBS program in more than 10 years. Even on their closest night, Friday, O'Brien received a 1.5 rating to Letterman's 0.8.
Personally, I think Letterman was funny until he lost the "Tonight Show" to Jay Leno, an event that seemed to embitter him. I watched Letterman's show for awhile after he moved to CBS, but eventually just stopped watching both he and Leno once I realized neither was making me laugh all that often. Some conservatives are calling for a boycott of Letterman's show due to his Palin comments, but many of us have been "boycotting" him for years. Plus, I'm not really a boycott kind of guy. Unless you're a Nielsen family, it doesn't do much good.
I've started watching the "Tonight Show" since Conan O'Brien took over, as his offbeat sense of humor appeals to me. I was hooked the moment he did his 'cross-country run' set to Cheap Trick's "Surrender."
I just hope Triumph makes an appearance soon.
Posted by slublog at June 11, 2009 10:14 PM
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Comments
Some conservatives are calling for a boycott of Letterman's show due to his Palin comments, but many of us have been "boycotting" him for years
Exactly. Its hard to boycott something your not watching anyway. I haven't watched Letterman since the '80s ended.
Posted by: nuthinhere at June 12, 2009 03:11 AM
He is as irrelevant as a Husky in summertime...
Posted by: Frank J Witt at June 12, 2009 08:10 AM
Conan is what dave used to be, only Conan is likeable.
Posted by: Douglas at June 12, 2009 07:45 PM
I always thought Letterman was great, ten years ago, then he got mean. His standup and even his attitudes towards guests seemed to have changed. Somewhere along the way he exchanged his jovial attitude towards all guests, to the embittered asshole we're seeing now.
I'd love to see the old Dave when he had the late show.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 14, 2009 10:26 PM
That anonymous person before was me. regardless. The same thing seems to be happening to Mr. Stewart on the Daily Show. He's hilarious, until he gets a guest that he doesn't agree with. We're left with a judgemental douchebag that won't bring the funny until they agree with him.
Posted by: coldmexican at June 14, 2009 11:17 PM